Ohayou, My Dear Chapter 0018, a trigun fanfic

Trigun Fanfic

The following fanfiction was written by me (Chiruken) and is intended for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.

--Ohayou, My Dear—

Trigun Fanfic Featuring Vash and Meryl. "Pervert!" "Wh-what are you doing in my bed?" "Put some clothes on for God's sake!"

By Chiruken

Chapter 18

**~**

    Vash sighed as he looked at the smoking remains of the jail that had almost held him for the night. He placed his hand behind his head and smiled sheepishly as he shifted his gaze to the stunned sheriff. "I'm really sorry about this, sheriff." He said quietly, expression contrite.

    The sheriff shook his head slowly. "I just don't understand…" He muttered as he ran a weary hand over his soot-smudged face. "I kept you away from explosives…I didn't let you anywhere near anything that could explode…and look at this."

    Millie stepped forward slowly and bowed her head. "I feel just awful, sheriff. It's all my fault. I'm really, really sorry."

    "I did everything he said…and **still** my jail was destroyed. I just don't get it."

    "He?" Vash asked in bewilderment. "Who are you talking about?"

    "Huh?" Visibly shaking himself back to the present the sheriff of October City turned to look up at his former prisoner. "Oh. Marshal Earp." He sighed and shook his head again. "Oh well. Nothing to do but try to rebuild. It's a miracle that no one got seriously injured." He narrowed his gaze on Vash. "Now I see why you're called the Humanoid Typhoon. Nothing…and I mean nothing…can withstand you. You're a walking disaster." He pointed with a shaking hand towards the car parked beside what remained of the sidewalk. "Just get out of my town before anything else happens. And please, for the love of God, don't touch anything on your way out!"

    Vash winced and slowly backed away. "I'm really sorry." He repeated as he reached for the door handle. "Um…sheriff?" He asked hesitantly.

    "What now?"

    "Who's Marshal Earp?"

    "Uh…" He looked at him in surprise. "You mean you don't know? That's strange. I thought for sure…I mean he said…oh well. Doesn't matter. Just leave…please?" He gazed at the tall gunman pleadingly. "I don't want anything else to get destroyed and the longer you stay here, the more likely that becomes."

    Millie sighed and shook her head sorrowfully as she slowly got into the car. "Come on, Mr. Vash. Let's go. I'm sure Meryl and Knives aren't too much further away now."

    "Yeah. Okay." Still puzzled by the sheriff's odd reference to what, in his opinion, was an historical person, he got behind the wheel and slowly drove out of town. "I wonder who that marshal could be…"

    "Don't worry about it, Mr. Vash." Millie leaned her head back against the seat and raised a hand to gently massage her temples. "I really made a mess of things, haven't I?"

    "It wasn't your fault, Millie. It was a freak accident, that's all." He frowned thoughtfully. "Of course, things like this happen to me a lot. I'm beginning to think that maybe I **am** cursed after all."

    "Oh don't say that!" She sat a little straighter and turned to offer him a smile of encouragement. "It was just a bad day, that's all. Things will get better, just you wait and see, all right?"

    "Sure, Millie…whatever you say."

***

    Meryl studied her companion's tired features in concern. "Knives…did you sleep at all last night?" She asked softly.

    "Not really." He admitted reluctantly as he sat across from her and stared into his glass of water. "If I leave you here, will you promise to stay put?"

    "Leave me here? What are you talking about?" She frowned and sipped her steaming cup of coffee. "What are you planning?"

    He reached inside his vest and withdrew a paper. He opened it and smoothed the wrinkles out on the table before pushing it towards her. "This is my assignment for today."

    Meryl studied the wanted poster and pursed her lips thoughtfully. "The Nevada Family? They escaped again? When will they ever learn?"

    "You know them?"

    "We've had occasion to cross paths in the past." She smiled weakly. "They went after Vash in Inepril City."

    "And they're still walking?" He snorted and sipped at his water.

    She tapped the image of the larger of the duo. "Vash rendered his giant fist attack inoperable during the encounter, but who knows what they came up with to replace it."

    "Indeed." He watched her thoughtfully. "You never answered my question."

    "I don't really want to stay here by myself, Knives." She looked around pointedly at the crowd that had materialized. They'd had the place to themselves the night before, but now that morning had arrived the small room was filling up rapidly.

    "Suit yourself. Just don't get in my way."

    "I wouldn't dream of it."

    "Stay in the jeep and out of trouble." When she didn't answer he sighed. "I mean it, Meryl. I don't need to have to worry about you, too."

    "What do you mean?"

    He stood and looked down at her silently for several moments. "They're holed up in an orphanage right now."

    Her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped. "Oh my gosh! Those poor children! They must be terrified." She pushed away from the table and stood as well. "I'm coming with you and that's all there's to it. Give me a gun and I can help…"

    "Forget it, Meryl. You're staying in the jeep and that's that." He grabbed her arm and led her outside into the glare from the twin suns. "I don't want to hear another word about it. Got it?"

    "Yeah, I got it." She grumbled as she slid into the passenger seat and folded her arms across her chest. She glanced over at him and finally sighed. "Thanks for the clothes, Knives. I appreciate it."

    "Don't mention it. I couldn't let you traipse around in your night shirt. It was too distracting." He smirked at the angry splutters issuing from the passenger seat. "No, no…no need to thank me again."

    "Jerk." She muttered and fell silent as she stared at the sandy scenery whizzing by as they headed south east away from the way station set up at the side of the road.

~*~