Disclaimer: Arrggg, do I have to? Ahhh, ok. I don't own Trigun. Wow, that wasn't hard at all.

Chapter 16: Effect

The next morning Alex was nowhere to be seen, he wasn't there when I woke up, nor after Abby and I had finished breakfast.

Finally I turned to Abby, "Where's Alex?"

Abby looked thoughtful for a moment then snapped her fingers, "He said he was going to do something in the hovercraft."

I nodded and stepped out into the sunlight. My eyes scanning the perimeter for Alex.

He was sitting halfway out of the driver's seat in the hovercraft, his head was tilted to the side listening to something, and he had a worried look on his face.

I stepped around the open door and stood in front of him, "Is something the matter?"

He glanced at me for a second, then looked away, "I don't know."

It was then that I heard the Comm-radio on, the voices on it spoke in some sort of military talk that must have been unique to the Martians.

I tilted my head to get a better look at his face, "What are they saying?"

"Something big is going down, all Lunan troops have left the planet."

"They're surrendering?"

Alex shook his head, "No, apparently they had the better of us, close to beating us, but spies in the Lunan government have heard that they've got something big that they are sending in and wanted the troops out of the way."

I looked at the radio and listened to the chatter, trying to decipher something of what they were saying. I couldn't understand a thing, "What now?" I asked.

Alex flicked off the radio and slid out of the hovercraft, "The higher ups are saying keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary."

I snorted, "Well now, that's really specific."

He laughed, "Yeah right."

I looked down at my boots, having nothing more to say.

A light touch on my shoulder brought my head back up and I found my self locked in Alex's gaze, "Say, Rem?"

"Yes?" What now? What was he going to say?

"Could there ever be anything between us? Because, well, I..." He let out a long breath, "I didn't plan any of this. I helped you initially, because I don't like to see people hurt. But over the past week and a half... I think I've fallen in love with you, no that's wrong," He smiled, that charmingly confident grin he had, "I know I have."

I felt my body paralyze, but it seemed that my mouth still worked, "Alex I-- "

"I'll understand," He said, "If you don't feel the same way, you just have this effect on me, that no one has ever had before, and I couldn't hold this back anymore." He reached out and touched my cheek, "Please Rem, tell me, am I being a fool?"

I reached up, took his hand with my own and leaned into his palm, "No, Alex, you aren't a fool. Because, because... I love you too, am in love with you." This last part can out in barely a whispered but Alex heard it all.

He lifted my chin and hesitantly touched his lips to mine, but when this chill came this time instead of jerking away, I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.

In turn he wrapped his arms around my back, and tightened his hold on me, like he didn't want to lose me.

The world stopped, the world became nothing more than just the two of us, and with our mouths locked in this monumental moment, I became aware of something more.

His mind and my own joined together. We were no longer next to the hovercraft out side of a cave; we were in some new place. I broke off the kiss and looked around, but never let go of him.

~Where...?~ My voice was not physical anymore. I stared into Alex's blue eyes.

~A place where we are joined together spiritually.~

I don't know how, but I saw, literally saw, felt and heard what he felt for me, in a collage of colors, feelings and sound. I could only guess he saw the same of me.

I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder, and let my self become immersed in our surroundings.

~How is this possible?~

~Does it matter?~

~No, I guess it doesn't~

~I love you, Rem.~

~I love you, too, Alex.~



Thankee to foo.

Review plez...