Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun or any characters from the manga/anime series.

Note: I PROMISE I did not forget about this! It was written on the computer in my bedroom, and when I went to transfer it by floppy, I found out someone had spilled coke all over my disks, so I got lazy and didn't go find more disks . . . So I'd say this has been completed for, like, a month, give or take ^_^

Chapter 13. Plant

"But . . . Rath, what about the Plant? How do you explain how that thing disappeared?!"

Rath sighed heavily. He was hoping his and Kate's two-hour-long conversation would have been over when he had attempted to explain what Knives's plans were.

"Kate . . ." he whined, putting a finger to his temple. "I don't know. All I can say about the missing Plant is Knives is definitely behind it and he's got plans for it."

"I can't believe he wouldn't tell me!" Kate said loudly.

"How is that so hard to believe? I mean, it's Knives for Christ's sake."

"I always thought we had- oh, never mind, you wouldn't understand. You're just a little boy." Kate stood and walked to Meryl, checking up on her as she had every thirty minutes for the past hour.

"Little boy, huh, Kate?"

"Yes, you are." Rath only chuckled.

"When is Vash gettin' back?" he asked aloud, not necessarily to anyone, walking to the window and peering out.

"I dunno. Why don't you go and dig through his brain. I don't mind," Kate replied sarcastically.

"Ha ha ha," Rath said, with equal sarcasm. "I'm gonna go look around, you stay here with Meryl."

"Yeah, whatever." Rath walked out into the street and took flight. Kate looked at Meryl. For a person who'd been unconscious for quite a while - no, wait, for someone who had been hit by an angel arm - she sure looked pretty healthy. The only thing that disturbed Kate was what Meryl was dreaming about.

"Joseph, how far away is his ship?" Vash said to Joseph over the wind. They had been traveling for quite a while, and with Vash's weight Joseph was getting a cramp.

"Pretty far away from Fondreak, but . . . Jesus, Vash, you weigh a ton. Can't we walk for a while?" Vash didn't even have time to put in an answer before Joseph dropped him and had to scramble, struggling with his stiff arms, to catch Vash. He eventually gave him a soft landing on the ground.

"Sorry, man, but you're not the lightest guy on the planet, if you know what I mean," Joseph said, flexing his arms to gain some feeling. "Knives's ship isn't that far away by now. Shouldn't take too much longer to get there, I hope. But sorry for the delay."

"No problem," Vash said with a slight smile. He turned and began to walk in the direction they had been flying. Joseph eventually caught up.

They had been traveling by foot for the better half of an hour before either of them spoke again. It was Joseph to speak first. "Vash, I know this was my idea, but are you sure you can rescue Milly? I mean . . . Not that I'm doubtful or anything . . . I'm just a little nervous. If anything really happens to Milly, Meryl will bury me alive . . ."

"Why is it that Meryl's emotions matter so much to you?" Vash asked. Like Joseph, he himself was surprised he managed to ask that, maybe more so than him. He was, after all, a lover of peace, a lover of the lesser mortal. Maybe it was that his brother had never been like this, and Knives was the only other Plant he had known before just recently.

"I . . . love her." He managed to croak out his answer, his voice a little crackly. It sounded more like a question than anything else. Also, he sounded as if he weren't sure of himself. His words had short hesitations between them, as though he were afraid he was choosing the wrong words . . . like Vash wouldn't approve.

"You really think that?" Vash said calmly, a small smile on his face. Joseph was completely taken aback. "You don't have to be afraid, these are emotions humans share as well. It only proves how close in relation we are to them. No, again, you really think you love her?"

"Yes, I suppose I do. Don't you?"

"It's a topic I prefer not to talk about," admitted Vash. Now Joseph smiled.

"You know . . . speaking of Plants such as ourselves having human emotions, Kate has had some for quite a while. I though it impossible, and it's probably wrong to say this, but from poking around through her rather confusing mind, it seems she's in love with-"

Vash: "Knives. I know."

Joseph: "Is it that obvious?"

"I can't say that. For a human, certainly not. She only worships my brother, but not for a species other than ourselves. When Cal died, I could read it in her mind. She was hurt because she thought Knives was the one who killed Cal."

"And indeed he was."

"You knew?"

"Ashamed as I am to say it, I did. Honestly, however, it was only Knives's plan. Reason to kill. With Cal still around, it would take Kate away from her work. Distraction. Knives needs Kate to he won't have to do the work himself."

"Does Knives know of Kate's feelings for him?"

"Maybe, maybe not. Hard to tell what goes on through his mind. Myself, I haven't gotten within three feet of the man since Recognition a year ago."

"About Cal's death . . . If Knives didn't do it in person, who did?"

"Alexander."

"But he's human."

"Not an ordinary one, you'd have to admit. But Knives doesn't like him."

Vash gave a small chuckle. "Knives doesn't like humans. Period."

"Yeah, I know, but there's a different reason, too."

"What might that be?"

"Expert in Plants."

Alexander cursed loudly as his back hit the hard metal wall.

"He can see you, you dumbass," Rath said viciously. "He can see every move you make. What were you thinking, trying to come around here?"

Alexander laughed. "He told me to," he hissed. "Why'd you leave? You're leaving your little girlfriend to tend to her friend?" He was now mocking Rath. Rath took him by the collar and picked him up, then slammed him against the wall again, harder.

"She's my sister! I had my reasons for leaving."

"You two act like more than siblings. Besides, it wouldn't have stopped me." Rath knew he was trying to piss him off, but he really wanted someone to hit. He took Alexander's shoulders, turned him around, and shoved him face-forward into the wall. He only laughed at Rath.

"You sick bastard," Rath sneered in his ear. He turned Alexander around again to face him. His nose was bleeding, but that seemed to be all the damage done. Well, that, and his nose appeared to be broken. Rath was on the verge of punching him, beating him within an inch of his life for what he knew Alexander was doing there, but a pain spreading from his gut to his stomach and chest erupted suddenly, and the only movement his body would allow was to fall to the floor.

He could feel his warm blood seeping through his clothes. He knew he wouldn't die, but it hurt like hell to get shot like that at close range.

Author's Notes: Such secrecy. Gods, I love bloodshed . . . Sorry for the lack of length for this chapter. I ran blank and I had history projects to finish (that were, ironically, long over due). I don't think I'll make up for the length in the next chapter, but possibly the one after that for what I've recently planned. I'm hoping to get the next to or three chapters out before my February history project is due (well . . . it's already been due, but you know what I mean -_-;)