Episode Unknown: Vacation

Part Four

Shooting Star

            Vash the Stampede.  How much did he hate that name?  The Humanoid Typhoon.  That one didn't make him sound any better. So bad things happened when he was around.  So trouble seemed to always be his lost little puppy.  It didn't mean he was responsible for it every single time.  He couldn't remember what happened that made him such an outlaw, such a wanted man, but there was no use in worrying about it now.

            His aqua green eyes searched the skies on the second night of being on the sand-steamer.  By mid morning they should reach their destination of New Oregon and so far their journey was going without a hitch. For good measure Vash thought he'd better wish on that as well.  He wasn't getting anywhere though- all the stars in the sky were stationary.  A wish of this magnitude called for a bright fireball whizzing past in the sky.

            "Have you got any tucked away for me Rem? I could really use one right now," he whispered softly to the shadow of the young woman's face glittering in the stars. He could almost hear his mentor's voice singing to him like she always used to.

            "Vash?" A voice called out quietly from the darkness of their room on the sand steamer. A woman's voice…soft, kind, so caring.

            Half dazed, the blond man turned, seeing nobody. "Rem?" he asked, uncertain, his voice just above a whisper, eyebrows knit together as he strained to see in the blackness.

            "Vash is that you?" The voice spoke again, closer this time.

            He could just make out a figure, and positive it was his close beloved friend miraculously back from the dead, he flung out his arms and pulled the slender figure to him, crying out loudly.

            "Rem! It is you, oh this is such a great moment!!"

            A solid thwack on top of his head set him straight, and the figure wriggled desperately free from his arms. The voice was no longer soft but punishing. Ach, how wrong he'd been to think this woman who liked to hit him was his sweet friend Rem.

            "What do you think you're doing attacking me like that you oaf?!"

            "Oh…it's only you, Meryl." He replied, turning his gaze back out the window.

            A low growl emitted from the petite insurance girl's throat as she stepped into the light of the moon coming into the window.

            "Only me?! What do you mean it's only me?!"

            Instantly, Vash clamped a hand over her mouth and put a finger to his lips. "Shh! You're going to wake everyone up. Why are you awake anyway? Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

            When he moved his hand, Meryl spoke more quietly. "I can ask you the same thing. I don't want you causing trouble again while we're all sleeping, so if you're going to stay awake I guess I'll just have to supervise. What were you doing anyway?"

            Gesturing to the sky, Vash smiled faintly. "Looking for a shooting star. They're the best kinds to make wishes on you know." Rem had told him that, he thought with a smile. "So don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, and you know it's not like I intentionally look for trouble."

            Meryl blinked. He was right of course, he never did go in search for these dangerous situations he ended up in, they always seemed to find him. Even so…

            "Well I'm awake now so I might as well stay up. What are you going to wish for?"

            With a faint smile, and the seriousness that usually took everyone's breath away, Vash replied. "If I tell you it won't come true. That's how wishes work. Help me look for one and you can make a wish too, on the same one. Maybe that way at least one of us will have our wish come true."

            The black haired young woman turned her blue-grey eyes to the sky as well and sought out a shooting star. Ridiculous, she muttered under her breath, but deep down she did have something to wish for.  She had several things actually, but one above all else, and hey it couldn't hurt to try.

            They stared out the window for a long while- it felt like hours- listening to the gentle snoring of Milly and the soft grunts of Wolfwood during whatever nightmare he was having.  Vash seemed to be in some sort of trance, unblinkingly gazing to the sky and undoubtedly speaking silently to whoever he was talking to before Meryl had been so rudely attacked by his arms.

            Before too long, Meryl was about ready to turn around and go back to bed but when she turned, Vash grabbed her arm gently.

            "Look, I found one!"

            The woman turned and followed to where he was pointing.  Sure enough a bright flash was streaking across the sky.

            "Wow…it's beautiful," Meryl murmured.  She then realized she ought to be making a wish, however the more she gazed at the falling star, the more she noticed there was something askance about it. "Vash is it me or is that star getting closer to us?"

            Vash tilted his head then narrowed his eyes, squinting at the streaking ball of light. It wasn't until it was nearly too late that he saw the ball of light was made out of what looked like metal. And it was heading straight for the sand steamer.

            "This thing just turned from beautiful to…SCARY!!" Vash cried, diving to the floor and covered his head as Meryl did the same, the sand steamer suddenly rocking violently.

            Great, just my luck, Meryl thought…she knew the ride was going much too smoothly.