Ohayou, My Dear Chapter 0020, 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 20

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    Vash stared at the way station and shook his head. "They were here…not that long ago either." He muttered and slowly got back into the car. He glanced over at Millie and scowled. "You know, Millie, this has gone on long enough."

    "I don't understand, Mr. Vash." She cast him a nervous look and forced a strained smile. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you this, but Knives isn't going to hurt Meryl. We're only trying to help you."

    "I believe that **you** are trying to help me, but Knives? He doesn't help anyone but himself."

    Millie frowned and turned away from him. "You're being so stubborn. Just admit that you love Meryl and then tell her. Everything will turn out fine, trust me."

    "I trust you, Millie…or at least I used to before this fiasco…but I can't trust Knives, not after everything he's done." He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I can't admit anything to Meryl either 'cause I honestly don't think she'd care."

    "Oh please." She rolled her eyes. "Are you blind?"

    "What's that supposed to mean?"

    "Meryl feels the same way about you, Mr. Vash, as you do about her. She's just scared, that's all. And she has a really hard time expressing herself."

    "Could've fooled me." He muttered, remembering their argument from two weeks before. "Seems to me she can express herself just fine, Millie."

    "What happened between you two? Meryl never did tell me everything. All she said is that you two woke up in the same bed…"

    "She told you that?!" He leaned back in his seat and stared up at the roof of the car. "I still don't know how it happened…"

    "Well, it seems to me that instead of dwelling on how it happened you two should be thinking more of how you can use it to your advantage."

    "I don't understand."

    "Well, I don't understand how something like that could happen either, but you should've told her how you feel instead of being so childish."

    "Childish?! Do you have any idea what she said, Millie? She made her feelings abundantly clear on the whole matter." He winced, remembering how their argument had ended. "Trust me…if I were the last guy left she'd choose to be a hermit."

    "Meryl has a hard time controlling her temper sometimes, Mr. Vash." She sighed and leaned closer to him. "Sometimes people say hurtful things in the heat of anger that they don't really mean. Meryl's like that."

    "You really think so?" He asked softly, perking up hopefully.

    "Uh huh. I know how she really feels, Mr. Vash. She wanted to tell you for a long time, but she's afraid to since she doesn't know how you feel about her."

    "I don't know…" He slumped a little more in his seat and stared out the windshield into the distance.

    "I know it's risky, Mr. Vash…but sometimes you have to take chances and risk everything if you're ever going to find happiness." Her lips curved up into a gentle smile, blue eyes soft and slightly unfocused as she thought of the man her own heart belonged to. "It's natural to be afraid…that's a lot of power you're giving into someone else's keeping and the risk of getting hurt is high…but the rewards are more than worth the risk, Mr. Vash. There is no greater feeling than knowing that you love someone…and they love you in return."

***

    Knives and Meryl stood beside the jeep and stared in open-mouthed shock at the crumbled remains of the October City jail. "What the hell happened?" Knives muttered as he took in the scene of mass destruction.

    "If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say your brother happened, Knives." Meryl shook her head slowly. "I've never met anyone so disaster prone as Vash. It makes me wonder how he's lived as long as he has."

    "This happens often?" He took a slow step forward and shook his head. "I told him to keep Vash away from explosives." He muttered under his breath.

    "Unfortunately, yes. The Bernadelli Insurance Company has declared him the first localized human natural disaster."

    He cast a sharp look down at her and leaned closer. "He isn't human."

    "I know that, you know that and so does Millie…but the rest of the world doesn't and I think it's better if it stays that way."

    He straightened and turned his gaze back to the ruins of the jail. "This makes things a little more difficult."

    "What do you mean?" She tore her gaze away from the rubble and looked up at him curiously.

    "Where do you suggest we leave them now?" He jerked his head in the direction of the prisoners.

***

    Millie smiled at the children surrounding her companion. **He certainly has a way about him…** She thought as she turned her attention back to the priest standing beside her. "So, when did they leave, Mr. Priest?"

    Smiling, the priest looked up at her. "About four hours ago. I believe Marshal Earp mentioned something about returning to October City to drop off the prisoners." He shook his head, his smile disappearing. "He was in a most disagreeable mood after his companion shot him. I don't believe it was a serious wound, but he refused treatment. I hope he's all right."

    "I can't believe Meryl shot him…" She muttered with a frown. Finally she shrugged. "Oh well. I guess we should go back to October City, then." She turned her attention back to the tall gunman currently trying to disentangle himself from the orphans clinging to his limbs. "Mr. Vash, they went back to October City."

    "Huh? Oh man…I don't think the sheriff is going to be glad to see us back there…" He shrugged and looked down at the children. "Okay, guys, I gotta go now." A chorus of protests rose up around him. Tamping down on the guilt rising at the sight of their pleading eyes he moved away. "Well, see ya!" He hurried back to Millie's side. "Whew…they sure got good grips."

    "Maybe we can come back later?" She suggested softly as she followed him back to the car.

    "Maybe…but first things first." He climbed in and started the car. "Well, at least we're getting closer. I hope she's all right."

    "I think you should be more worried about Knives, Mr. Vash. The priest told me that Meryl shot him."

    "What?!" He clenched his hands on the steering wheel. "Oh man…he's going to be **so** pissed…" He shook his head sharply. "Knives doesn't have a lot of patience, Millie. This might be what sets him off! We gotta hurry!"

    She didn't want to admit it, but she also felt more than a little concerned for her friend. She knew Knives wasn't known for having a good control of his temper and after being shot he'd be in a real foul mood. She hoped he didn't do something they'd all regret. **Oh Meryl…why did you have to go and do something so foolish?**

~*~