Vash walks onto the stage and faces the audience. "Hello, everyone. I'm here to give the introduction today for Kalanoa-san. As you all know, she was out for a while with injuries."

In the background, yelling and crashing can be heard. "Argh! Damn, stupid, evil school! Walk around handing out projects and then they make them all due on the same freaking day!"

Vash sweatdrops and looks back towards the backstage. "Anou…Kalanoa-san, you did know about the two papers a month in advance, and you knew about project even longer."

Various objects fly from backstage with the obvious intent of hitting Vash in the head. "Shut up, broom head! I didn't bring you here to criticize me and my procrastinating ways."

"But you have to admit that you did know." More cursing and crashing can be heard. "Oi! Lily, you're going to hurt your shoulder again! Please don't get injured, I just know you'll take it out on me and the others."

"Darn right you should keep me happy! I'm the author! And next chapter is the final battle."

Vash sighs and turns back to the audience. "In any case, everyone, here is the next chapter. No one is harmed seriously, I don't think. And Kalanoa doesn't own Trigun or any of that stuff. Enjoy!"

A rather large math book flies through the air, nailing Vash and sending him to the ground and a final scream echoes, "I hate school!!!!!"

***

Legato was lying on his back against a sand dune, trying to get his thoughts in order. He couldn't stand the thought that he'd just yelled at the only people he could call friends. It was bad enough that he would be dying again any day now, he didn't want to spend his remaining time alone. He hated that feeling. He could remember . . . something. Before Angel had brought him back. It had been cold, far colder than anything he'd ever felt before, and he had felt afraid and alone. It was bad enough knowing he'd feel that way again soon, he couldn't stand the thought that his last days of life would be spent like that, too.

"I wonder if the others remember anything," he muttered to the night. It was cold and getting colder by the minute. For the first time since he'd awakened in this young body, Legato wished he still had his white coat. It was surprisingly cool during the day, but at night like this it had kept his nice and warm once he unrolled the sleeves. Legato had learned to hate the cold in the short time he'd been dead, but even that was not enough to move him back to the house. The stars were too beautiful and the night was dark as ink and he could clearly see each tiny pinprick in the sky.

A different light attracted Legato's attention and he looked out to the desert. There was a small gathering of lights, as if there was a sandsteamer or something. Odd, there weren't any schedualed transports coming in today that Legato knew about. He stood and took a few steps in that direction. There was deffinately a convoy out there, not too far off, actually. Shivering in the cold air, Legato nodded and headed towards the lights at a jog.

There was a smaller light, slightly apart from the others and Legato watched closely as it began moving away. Must be a patrol to make sure nothing's coming to attack them. In this blackness it was hard to see much of anything beyond the glow of their own lights. Legato quickened his pace and made sure to avoid the scout as he approached the gathering. As he got closer, he could see they were a group of bandits. Legato wrinkled his brow and sneakedcloser into the light.

". . . Yeah, right there in the middle of town!"

"Man, the boss is lucky he didn't get shot, abducting a kid out in the open like that. Not that he did wrong, of course, I'd never badmouth the boss."

"Yeah, it'd just get you a bullet for your trouble."

Legato looked around at the men, wondering what they were talking about. A kid . . . surely he didn't just stumble into the guys that took Zazie. After all the hardships he'd faced this last month, to find Zazie just like that would be way too easy. Carefully, he moved along the edge of the light, at this distance he could observe them pretty well, but he'd still be hard to spot.

"Hey, you!" Legato jumped, thinking he'd been discovered. The large man looked to be the ringleader of the gang, but he hadn't seen Legato. Instead, he walked over to a small group gathered around the fire. "Any luck finding that idiot?"

One of the men shrugged. "Sorry, boss. No one knows where he is, or at least they aren't telling us if they do."

"That's actually no surprise," another man muttered. "Trouble follows on his heels, the townsfolk must realize that anyone looking for Vash is a bounty hunter or something. They don't want their precious town to get caught up in the battle."

"And the kid still ain't talkin'?" All the men shook their heads and the leader sighed. "Well, don't give 'im anything to eat until he says somethin'. I'm going to find Vash the Stampede and get my rematch."

The large man walked away and Legato watched as the few men conversed with each other. They must be guards, which meant the tent set up behind them was where their prisoner was. Legato walked up behind them, careful not to make a noise, and slipped through the back. "It is you!"

Zazie looked up, surprised by the sudden voice. "Legato? What're you doing here?"

"Well, I thought I was just checking out a gang of bandits, but looks like I'm rescuing you." Legato moved quickly to the smaller boy, untying his hands and feet. "Come on, we should get out of here fast."

Zazie stood, following Legato to the tent's opening. He peeked out and nodded, "No one's paying attention. Let's go." The two went to the back of the tent, lifting the heavy material and slipping out silently. They'd just started away when Zazie heard a scream and stopped. Without explanation, he spun around and headed back towards the bandits.

Legato stummbled and turned around as well, nearling calling out to the other boy before he caught himself. Not that it would have changed anything since Zazie was screaming at the top of his lungs anyway. He had already come to the focus of the commosion. Three gangmembers had a young girl surrounded and Legato groaned when he saw who it was. "Isabel!" Zazie screamed.

The girl caught sight of him and was obviously releived. "Zazie, help!"

Without hesitation, the blonde threw himself at the nearest thug. Suddenly a shrill whistle peirced the air and everyone froze. The leader slowly walked towards them, eyeing his inexplicably free captive as well as the other teenagers. One of the men grabbed Isabel and the leader eyed Zazie. "I applaude your efforts, you got away. Now you better do the right thing if you don't want the little lady to get hurt."

Zazie blanched, yelling angrily at the large man. "You said that you wouldn't hurt her!"

The man nodded thoughtfully, the brim of his hat dipping to shadow his eyes. "I suppose that is true. Wouldn't be too good to go back on my word like that." He looked up. "But I remember my words differently. I didn't need to hurt her so long as I had you."

Zazie was shaking with barely contained anger. "Let her go." Legato suddenly found himself wishing he had a weapon of some sort. "Let go of Isabel right now, she doesn't have anything to with this!"

Legato's eyes suddenly widened in recognition. "Neon!"

The leader turned to look at the strange boy. "Oh, you've heard of me?" Suddenly he was moving. Legato had no time to react before the larger man slammed into him full force. Legato stumbled back, but never hit the ground as the man grabbed him, twisting him around and pinning one of his arms behind his back. "So, now what, kid? Next move is yours." B.D.N. asked, turning to Zazie.

Zazie couldn't seem to move, staring at the men around him. Finally he dropped his arms and hung his head. "Let them go."

Neon laughed. "Just so you'll stick around? I don't think so. I want to find Vash the Stampede, not just hold his friends hostage. 'Sides, I got a better idea." Neon was moving again, too fast for Zazie to keep track of him. The blow came from nowhere and Zazie slumped to the sand. He fought to stay awake and saw as Legato fell as well, unconscious before he hit the ground. Zazie could just hear Neon speaking to Isabel. "You can drive this thing, right? You tell Vash to meet me soon, or I'll come after them again. Tell him that." Zazie drifted into blackness.

***

"I'm so sorry you got caught up in all this. Really, are you sure you're alright?"

Legato blinked slowly, trying to place the voice that was speaking above him. Another voice replied to the first. "Honestly, I am all right. Just, you know, I'm worried for them. He said he'd come after them again."

Finally Legato could make out the figures of Vash and Isabel above him. He groaned and sat up, instantly becoming the focus of both people. He nodded and tried to wave them away. "I'm all right. Really, I am. Just a little headache."

"Oi, Legato-chan, check your wrist." Legato looked at Zazie, surprised, then down at the red fabric encasing his wrist and gasped. "It's because you tried to help me, I'm sure of it. And I wanted to help you and Isabel, mine's white now." Though the news was great, Zazie looked miserable as he said it.

Vash cleared his throat and the two boys looked at him. "I want you two to be careful. Neon's a pretty honest guy, but he's ruthless, too. Watch yourselves until I can deal with this."

"Wait, you're not actually going to fight that freak, are you?" Vash didn't answer and Zazie jumped to his feet. "No way in hell! You can't let that guy get what he wants."

"It's not like that. I'm trying to do what's right for you guys, ya know? I don't want to see you get hurt again." Legato watched as Vash forced his face into a smile. "Besides, it won't be a big deal. I beat him once, I can do it again."

Legato shook his head and stood. "We need to let the others know." He left without a goodbye and Zazie hurried after him. "Hey, Zazie."

"Yeah?"

"I'm going with him. To that fight. I want to make sure he'll be okay, but I think you should avoid it."

"Why? Shouldn't I be there to help, too?"

Legato shook his head. "Do you remember when Angel came to us that night?" Zazie nodded. "Well, think about it. She said we had one month, right? And that was almost thirty days ago. This fight is where we're going to die."

Zazie stopped in his tracks, dumbfounded. Legato kept walking as if nothing were wrong and the little blonde had to jog to catch up with him. "You can't be serious! If that's really the case, then I'm safe! You're the one that shouldn't go there!"

Legato shook his head and continued walking.

Midvalley and Wolfwood were both at home when the others arrived, as if they knew something had happened during the night. When they heard the news about Neon and Vash's fight, they both hung their heads. Midvalley shivered and looked at Legato. "That's it, then? Our time is up?"

"Probably."

Midvalley looked at his wrist and immediately started cursing. "Damnit! No! I was so close!" He slammed his fist into the wall, then winced, curling in on himself and holding his side. "Ow, damnit. I can't even do anything right now."

Wolfwood sighed and sat on the couch. "I thought I was doing so well in the beginning. And that's it. Shit, what am I going to tell Millie?"

Legato shook his head. "I'm sorry. But there is still time, you can be with her forever. Just go do some good, it's not as hard for you."

Wolfwood snorted. "Yeah, sure. This coming from the guy who's done three more deeds than me."

"I'm not that great. You know perfectly well I won't get another, but you may."

"Damn you." Legato looked surprised at the sudden curse. "Even now, you're so damn noble. I want so badly to go on hating you, too." By now all three boys were staring at the preist like he was nuts. "You're right, though. I can get another deed, just by saying – and meaning – three very simple words."

Legato smiled, "Then say them. You deserve to stay here and be happy."

Wolfwood looked at the ground and smiled. "I really did want to hate you for the rest of my life." With that, he turned and slipped into the bedroom, shutting the door tightly.

Midvalley looked confused. "Did he just forgive you?"

"That's what it sounded like to me."

Legato shook his head. "I don't know, but it would make sense. 'I forgive you', I wish he would say it, so he can stay here and be happy."

***

"Grr, the ending sucked this chapter."

Vash is still on stage, looking at the back. "Kalanoa-san, it was nice. You did a good chapter."

"But it took me forever! And I still have to write a paper!!" more crashing can be heard floating to the stage.

"Wasn't that due last week?"

Suddenly Kalanoa storms onto stage, waving a very large blue glowing sword. "Are you insulting my procrastinating ways again?"

Vash seawtdrops and jumps away from her. "You-that-have you been playing Onimusha again? Kalanoa, you should have been writing your paper! That sword-"

"Is going to slice you in half if you insult me again, needle-noggin!"

Kalanoa gulps again and backpeddles quickly. "Now now, Kalanoa. If you kill me now, you can't write the last chapter and then your readers will be mad! You want good reveiws, don't you?"

"I can write it without you," Kalanoa gets a wicked grin on her face. "I'll just have Wolfwood beat the baddie."

Vash eeps and starts to run. "No! Kalanoa, I didn't say a word! I was complimenting you! I was!!"

Kalanoa starts to charge after him and the two exit the stage. After a few minutes, Vash pokes his head out of a loose floorboard. "I think I lost her. Hey, you guys, please give a review or two? Please? To keep her from kiling me, right? And I'll try and get her to post by next weekend, all right? Right."