Ok, I'm opening this by explaining a few things, since it seems unclear what's going on to some of you in this fic. Number one, to Cecilia, Aki is not Vash's son. Meryl lied to him about it. Aki's father is a random drunk person that Meryl slept with to get Vash of her mind. Number two, to Beckira, the 'real' Vash is not back. He is fluctuating between himself and Knives' mind. Number three, to Neptune Butterfly, Vash and Knives are in the same body and they're not on a bus, they're in a cave somewhere in the middle of nowhere. After Wolfwood got healed and the incident that happened in the first chapter, Wolfwood's been taking care of Vash, helping him to not lose to Knives' will. No, Aki did run away, as you'll read in this chapter.
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What am I doing?! Aki clung to his night clothes closer to himself. It was bad when one acted on impulse without thinking about the possible consequences. Running away to look for a man that showed him the only kindness in his life...only he knew neither where the man lived...or if he would even get there alive. He could only worry about the latter right now. As he fought his way through the cold night air, he replayed the images of the day before. Such kind aqua-green eyes. And hair that glowed with the sunlight. It was like the pictures his mother had shown him of a field of wheat. Long strands of golden brown.
*You'll
remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in the fields of gold
But...that familiar hair colour. Where had he seen it before? Numb fingers. I have to keep going...The night wind burned his cheeks. I need to find that man...He wasn't able to feel his toes anymore...Ericks-san...Knees gave way to the sand beneath his feet and the poor boy collapsed into a trembling slumber.
The smell of kerosene smoke filled Aki's nostrils, forcing out of his unconscious slumber. The orange glow of a firelight danced across his face, giving the shadows lives of their own. Small movements out of the corner of his eye made him jerk. Those eyes. What he had been searching for. All of a sudden it came back to him. Those rags…that dim expression and shadow-cast eyes. That insane mass of hair. That man from the rain, who made his mother cry. One and the same?
○I wish I could see beyond the filthy blue horizon, see what lies ahead of me
Perhaps I'd see the path of my own destruction
And avoid my destiny, she said Heaven and Hell is one and the same boy
She told me Heaven and Hell, boy, was one and the same
We all meet somewhere in the middle
She told me Heaven and Hell, boy, is one and the same
I said it can't be true
Now Aki didn't know whether to be thankful…or afraid.
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How could he do this? Meryl ran around the town, asking anyone she found if they had seen her son. Why would he disobey me to look for that stupid man? Her thoughts slowed her speed down somewhat when she realized Aki was following in her own footsteps. Despite the fact that the bounty had been taking off Vash the Stampede's head, she still chose to follow him. Sense of duty, enchantment or even love, she didn't know at the time, but she felt it was her calling to follow the red-coated chicken head. Only to result in disappointment. He never returned to her. And the pain that overwhelmed her…she didn't want Aki to go through the same thing if he decided to leave again.
That is…if Aki was even still alive…
If he hurts even one hair on his head…what? What could she do? Would she be able to bring herself to kill the man who was forgotten by time? Could she bring down the man who had escaped innumerable deaths? Could she bring down the man that she denied still held a place in her heart? She knew that when she came face to face with those sad compassionate eyes of his…she would freeze. Like she always did when he looked into hers.
©And all I wanted was the simple things
A simple kind of life
And all I needed was a simple man
So I could be a wife
If we met tomorrow for the very first time
Would it start all over again?
Would I try to make you mine?
"Yes, I saws him heading in that direction a few hours ago. I thought 'That poor boy's insane to be going out in this kind of weather!'"
"Then why didn't you try to stop him!?" Meryl screamed at the elderly man.
"I's keep to me own business, young lady." And he slammed the door in her face.
At least that's a start…I pray I get to him before the cold gets him. Or someone else does…
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"Why did you come hear, Aki?" A familiar voice pulled Aki's attention away from the one he called 'Ericks-san'. The man…from the circus? What kind of twisted game is this?! How many more surprises could Aki take today? Aki's only response was a look of utter surprise and a dropped jaw. "I said why did you come here? Do you know how dangerous it is out there? You could have frozen to death!" But Aki didn't care. He found what he was looking for, but now what? Would he just stay here in this cave the rest of his life? If only I had thought through this a little more… Peering outside the cave entrance, the sky was slowing morphing into its prismatic hue of pinks and oranges, as the glowing 'eye' began to sink beneath the horizon. "Since you're not saying anything, be useful and stand there in front of the entrance, would you?"
What kind of dumb request is that?
"I said do it!" A hint of panic rose in the dark-haired man's voice. But what he was hoping to prevent was already occurring.
"Ericks-san's" head jerked slightly, as he caught sight of the moon, it's "eye" glaring back at him. A small spasm racked through his body, and then another. The spasms continued, each one greater than the last. Sobs escaped from the helpless man's lips as his own fingers dug into the skin on his arms.
"Stand there, you idiot!"
Of course, Aki complied.
A short scream tore through the air before the blond-haired man slumped to the ground in a quivering, sweaty heap.
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"What was that?" Meryl's eyebrow twitched. It sounded like the howl of a wild dog, but entirely different. Whatever it was…it was coming from the direction Aki had headed. She picked up her pace, her legs were burning from the long early morning run to find her son. Her cheeks stung from the icy morning air. But she had to keep going, to find her son. To save him from whatever might befall him. A large jagged form began rising across the horizon…a cave? She only hoped her son had found sanctuary there.
Little did she know how wrong she was.
She forced her legs to move faster, despite how much they demanded for rest. A plethora of images came into her mind: Aki sobbing, hugging her tightly. Aki being injured somehow. Aki…dead…
Move faster, you stupid legs!
The sun was already half-way over the horizon when she arrived at her destination. Not even stopping for a breath, she strode into the cave, preparing herself for what she was about to see. Hoping Aki was alright.
Those cold icy blues met hers.
Two others were there, staring in amazement at her, but she was transfixed.
You….
®I see love, I can see passion
I feel danger, I feel obsession
Don't play games with the ones who love you
Cause I hear a voice who says:
I love you... I'll kill you...
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Sorry it's taking me so long to write these chapters. I've been putting some serious work into starting a fiction of mine, so please bear with me. ^_^;;;; Hope you enjoyed this chapter and come back for more. ^_^x
* Fields of Gold – Sting
○ One And the Same – Everlast
© A Simple Kind of Life – No Doubt
® I Love You…I'll Kill You - Enigma
