** Author's Note ** Whee! I'm back! Well, this story is back, anyhow, I've been around. J I wonder who's still sticking around, waiting for this story to get back on track. For those who are still here, waiting, thanks so much for being patient, I just had…to finish my other fic first before it ate my brain…or something like that.

            Anyway, I'm gonna thank those who reviewed for part 7 all at once and hope that some of your questions are answered in this next coming part…and if not…um, ask them again ^_^ I'm just anxious to get it started, so after the disclaimer, we're off to the races! J

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from manga/anime Trigun or Cowboy BeBop, nor do I own the titles or rights to them. I am not affiliated with the creators in any way, shape or form, and I am doing this purely for the simple reason that I love both anime shows, the characters, and hope to entertain others without making a profit. So don't sue me, please, thank you! J

Vacation

Session Eight

Highway to Hell

            "Are we there yet? Jet…Spike? Will one of you carry me?" Faye Valentine grumbled as she followed the rest of the BeBop crew trudging through the sand land. There was almost nothing as far as the eye could see, and it'd been that way for the last four hours. This woman was not pleased that this place wasn't Venus, that they'd been zapped through some stupid hole in the universe, and that the goofy blond guy in the red coat kept gawking at her like she was a goddess. Well…then again, maybe that last part wasn't so bad.

            Jet glanced over his shoulder, "If you're not gonna carry anything, you're gonna walk just like the rest of us."

            Faye whimpered lightly and pouted, not bothering to look behind her as the weird blond guy called out.

            "I'll carry you! It'd be an honor to place such a beauteous lady such as yourself upon these strong, high shoulders!"

            The eccentric little red-headed girl spun with her arms flung out wide. "Hey Mr. Vash-person, will you carry Ed?! Ed's feet hurt…see? They're bare! Bare as a naked baby, baby naked!"

            Nicholas Wolfwood puffed on a newly lit cigarette and muttered to the insurance girls. "Man is that kid strange or what?"

            Milly grinned broadly. "I dunno Mr. Priest, I think she's kinda cute!"

            Meryl did a double take at Edward and looked to her partner. "It's a girl? How can you possibly tell that? I thought his name is Edward! That's a boy's name!"

            Overhearing, Ed walked backward towards them, wind-milling her arms separately, Ein barking at her feet.

            "Edward is a girl!" she grinned cattily up to them, amber eyes shining. "Ed named herself…it sounds much better than my stinky old name. Isn't Ed more fun to say?! Ed, Ed, Ed!" she giggled and did a cartwheel away from them.

            The priest gave the girls a flat expression. "I guess Milly was right after all. For as strange as that kid is, I guess Ed is a very fitting name."

            Milly let out a soft giggle, covering her mouth as Ed did another cartwheel and careened right into the muscular man named Jet.

            "Ouch! Ed, can't you watch where you're going?"

            Ed stood up from her cartwheels and saluted to the bigger man, the dog circling her feet barking.

            "Yes sir, Mister Jet Person, sir! Ed will watch where she's going very carefully!" As though to make it an obvious point, her fingers flew to her eyes and held her eyelids apart as freakishly wide as she could. She giggled madly and ran in the circle that Ein made.

            While this was happening, Spike was trying to make his cigarette last as long as possible. Whatever the brand, it definitely held a torch to his usual; a big, fat torch. He inhaled the tobacco product deeply, knowing it was coming to an end then exhaled the smoke slowly before dropping the butt and grinding it into the sand.

            "That was…so good," Spike murmured lazily, his hands retreating to his pockets as the group ambled on.

            The sky was still blanketed in darkness and even though they were walking it was getting pretty cold. Apparently the desert got that way at night, but at least there was no wind. Spike sighed and took a peek at the others. Ed seemed to have calmed down a bit, though from time to time would dart off into the darkness laughing like a mad scientist before returning to them. Faye had stopped complaining…for once, Spike couldn't help think with a wry smile. That weird blond guy was doing him a favor by bugging the hell out of Miss Valentine. Jet remained quiet, arms crossed, and a thoughtful expression on his otherwise stern face. He wouldn't say anything until he felt like it, Spike concluded.

            In front of them were their guides for the time being. The lumbering girl strode with a little less vigor than before and had also not spoken for at least…two or three minutes. Spike wondered if that was a new record. The short black haired woman, Meryl, seemed to be getting tired of walking as well, every now and then stopping briefly to shake sand from the white cape on her back. Spike thought he saw derringers on the underside and wondered just how heavy that cape was.

            Vash continued on with some sort of fierce determination, and when he turned his head there was the stupidest, goofiest grin on his face.

            'What an idiot,' Spike couldn't help but think. Was that guy for real? And what was up with the trench coat?

            The green-haired bounty hunter turned his mismatched brown eyes to the last member of their guiding party; the so called priest. He carried a large cross on his shoulder, wrapped up in a white sheet and held together by several buckles. Spike didn't know exactly what kind of priest toted anything like that and smoked cigarettes, but for sharing one of those precious sticks of nicotine he didn't care if Wolfwood was Satan himself.

            It wasn't until the wind began to pick up that the crew of the BeBop began to wonder how much farther they had left to go. It wasn't surprising that Faye was first to speak up.

            "I don't mean to complain," …yeah, sure she didn't, "but it's really getting cold out here. Are we anywhere close to this town yet?"

            Jet glanced at Faye and chuckled sardonically, "You mean those clothes aren't warm enough, Faye?"

            Spike grinned languidly and added his two woolong, "Shocking, isn't it?"

            Of course it wasn't shocking- the clothes Faye wore were far from warm. The tight yellow short-shorts, half shirt, suspenders, and third of a jacket hardly counted as desert night clothing. She shivered, ignoring the remarks.

            "Shut up you morons- men know nothing about fashion, I swear! Sometimes a woman just has to suffer to look this good."

            Spike and Jet exchanged comical expressions before Spike replied.

            "Then please, for the sake of us all- stop your suffering, Faye, because it's not doing you any good."

            Jaw dropping, Faye tried to lash out at her fellow bounty hunter. "You stupid fuzzy haired ass!"

            Before she could get to him, arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back. It was none other than Vash…of course. Whatever gave him the excuse to touch such a pretty girl, he'd jump for it.

            "Hey there little lady, no need for violence. Blood makes me dizzy and you don't want any on yourself, now do you?"

            Ed giggled to Ein as though it were a secret, "Bloody Faye-Faye…"

            Ein barked.

            Meryl cast a look over her shoulder with eyes that would shoot bullets into Faye's head if they could. She really began to resent this woman…

            Wolfwood turned to look as well, arching a brow as Vash tried to be smooth with the purple haired woman in the un-smoothest way.

            "If you're cold, I can most certainly keep you warm- it's my specialty," Vash grinned stupidly as he tried to cop a feel of Faye's chest.

            It resulted in a shriek and a loud smack. When he released her, the "ace gunman" found his left cheek sporting a nice red handprint. Huffing, Faye crossed her arms and positioned herself to walk between Spike and Jet.

            "Never touch a lady without her permission!" She cried without looking back, angry eyes remaining straight ahead.

            Ed stifled a laugh as Wolfwood commented under his breath about Vash being a needle-noggin again.

            Milly smiled as she looked at a simpering Vash, "Mr. Vash, that wasn't really appropriate of you to do. There are other ways to keep someone warm without grabbing them."

            Meryl seemed to have something to say about it to, but whatever it was she kept it to herself, glowering all the while with clenched hands.

            It quieted down again with the occasional bark from Ein or sporadic shout from Ed, and in about an hour the handprint on Vash's cheek evaporated. It was about the same time that the sky had begun to lighten a bit and on the horizon some blinking lights could be seen. They were the flickering lamps of New Oregon, and just past the town a bulbous glass construct could be seen as well.

            "Is that it? Is that the town?" Faye cried out, her hopes rising. She really hoped so- the trip there so far had been like traveling the highway to hell.

            Meryl nodded, "That's the town, yes. It's about time too- look, the Sand-steamer has already arrived there."

            It was true- though nobody had even noticed the hulking mechanism to the side of New Oregon. Of course it would have beaten them, it could move faster than any of them could, though that was debatable now as Ed and Ein shot off toward the town.

            "Yippee! Town means people, people means food! Food for Ed and Ein! We're hungry, hungry hippos! We want some ripe tomatoes!"

            The other stopped in their tracks to gaze quizzically at the distancing figures and Wolfwood glanced to Spike, Jet, and Faye.

            "Does she ever make sense?"

            "Sometimes," Jet replied shortly.

            "Ah," The priest shifted the large cross from one shoulder the other. "You've gotten used to it I bet."

            "Not exactly." This reply came from all three of them this time.

            Meryl was first to resume walking. "You can all stand here if you want, but personally I'm ready to check into the motel and get some sleep. Come on Milly."

            Milly obediently followed. Faye arched an eyebrow thinking this was a bit pathetic- a girl as big as her could probably pound that high strung Meryl right into the ground if she wanted to. However- the black haired woman did have a good idea. A shower and some sleep would probably do a world of wonders.

            Faye shrugged and followed them as well, Vash at her heels.

            "Wait for me fair maiden of my heart!"

            Spike and Jet looked to Wolfwood. "Is he always like that?"

            "Most of the time," the priest replied, lighting a cigarette then offered one to both of the bounty hunters.

            "Have you gotten used to it?" Jet queried, turning the tables a bit.

            Wolfwood gave a lopsided grin, inhaled on the lit cigarette, then replied before continuing toward the town.

            "Not exactly."

**A/N** Ok! I know its been forever and a day since I last updated this story- I'm SO SO sorry about that, but I got awfully busy with my original fictions and the manga I'm trying to create (as well as some other art projects that didn't quite make it ^.^). Anyhow- I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I promise to get to work on the next one ASAP!

~Celebria