(A/N: I know this is coming up on such short notice but I just decided that I wanted to post another story outside of the 'Hearts sequels.' If you missed the summary here's the full version:
Kat is an eight year old girl when she first meets Vash and her past is as mysterious as his. With Vash's reputation and Kat unwilling to let her hero leave her behind, will our favorite outlaw be able to keep her safe from bounty hunters? And what kind of influence does a gunslinger have on a child? Makes you wonder…R&R
I'm not sure where to go with this story and I've only written up to chapter two so don't kill me if it takes a while to update! Hope you like this one!)
PLEASE REVIEW!!!
The Telltale Heart
Chapter 1
Ages:
Vash- 124
Kat- 8
She sat there drinking her Shirley Temple on this hot desert day. The bar was almost completely empty save for the few that were dubbed as 'regulars.' A Thomas snort could be heard from outside as a gust of wind blew in, irritating the skittish animal.
"Another drink for you miss?" the bartender asked.
She was about to say that this was her last glass when the doors to the bar swung open. Heavy boots dragged against the wooden floor of the bar. The bar fell silent as soon as they picked up the man's troublesome aurora.
The girl turned to see who it was. She peered at him from over her shoulder and an eye brow rose in curiosity. This man had wheat colored hair that stood straight up with a few locks hanging over to serve some sort of bangs. He wore orange tinted glasses and a red duster coat. One sleeve on the coat was missing and the entire arm, right down to the fingertips, was covered in leather straps and buckles. He carried a silver gun with him which added to his air of toughness.
The bartender continued to wipe at a mug with an old rag to cover up his uneasiness. The man drew nearer and the bartender, without looking up from the mug he was cleaning, asked the man what he wanted, "What'll it be partner?"
The man took a seat in the stool next to the girl and ground out, "Beer."
The girl shifted uneasily in her seat wondering if there was a reason as to why he had chosen to sit next to her. There were plenty of other seats to sit in. She studied the man a bit closer and noticed that one of his ears was pierced. He also had a beauty mark, or mole, under one eye. His face was pretty much expressionless except for the slight frown he wore. The glasses hid his eyes and the girl could only wonder who he was.
"I'll have another Shirley Temple," the girl said as she decided to stay a bit longer to investigate the man sitting next to her. The bartender raised an eyebrow but didn't ask any questions. The girl cursed herself for being too young to have something with alcohol in it.
The man next to her sipped his beer and she got the feeling he was watching her. 'Perhaps it would have been smarter of me to leave. What have you gotten yourself into this time Katsura?'
The man took one last sip of his beer before opening his mouth to speak to her. She cut him off, "Who are you?"
He smirked, "I was just about to ask you the same question." The bartender diverted his attention elsewhere but continued to listen in on their conversation.
"In this town I'm known as Katsura, Meryl's sister," the girl replied seeing as she would have to give the man her name, "My friends call me Kat."
The man's expression changed, "Meryl as in Meryl Strife?"
Kat could have sworn she saw him smile. Her expression remained neutral even though she was a bit surprised, "You know her?"
The man's expression shifted back to a more guarded one. He removed his glasses, "You might say that."
Kat's amber gaze met his and she almost gasped. His eyes were aquamarine and they seemed to stare right through her. For a split second she wondered if he was blind. The man broke the eye contact and pocked his glasses. Kat had seen something in his eyes that she rarely saw in anyone else's. She had seen extreme sadness and grief.
The man coughed to break the silence and then explained how he knew her sister, "I've bumped into her a few times in this city while passing through. We've never spoken more than a word to each other though. I've overheard someone talking about her once but thought nothing of it."
"Oh," was all Kat could say. She paused a moment, "What did you say your name was?"
His eyes hardened into something of a glare before the mean look dissolved, "…I didn't tell you my name." His hand moved to the gun at his hip and he drew it out of the holster so fast Kat was barely able to register he had moved.
The nearest window to her shattered as a bullet slammed into it. Kat cried out in pain as another bullet passed through her shoulder. The other occupants of the bar had already hightailed it out so it was just Kat, the bartender and the mysterious man left inside. A shout rang out through the firing guns, "We have you now Vash the Stampede!"
The blonde glared at the door way, judging the escape, before snatching Kat off the stool she was perched on. She yelped in protest and a searing hot pain became noticeable to her. With each stride the man took, the pain in her shoulder increased. She was faintly aware that her blood was beginning to coat his shoulder. She could feel the warm liquid under her but the color of her blood blended with the crimson coat the man was wearing. She wondered if the man that was carrying her was Vash the Stampede. 'But then why would he be bothering to save my life?' She had heard stories about how he was a womanizer and now Kat feared for her life. Her shoulder was beginning to become numb. 'I've also heard tales that his coat was originally white, that it's now red from the blood of all the people he's killed…'
The blonde continued to dodge bullets as he ran through the town's streets. 'I have to get her to a hospital. She's bleed so much I can feel it dripping down my arm.' He hissed as a bullet grazed his leg. The girl slung over his shoulder shifted as he took a sharp turn down one of the town's many allies. Foot steps sounded behind him and he turned his head from the men following him back to see where he was running to.
His boots scraped against the ground attempting to gain traction. The outlaw skidded to a stop just as he was about to crash into a wall. He grunted in frustration to see that he was trapped.
The men came to a stop behind him. "We're going to be rich!" one of the men said to the others, "As soon as we collect the bounty, we'll have enough money to retire for life!"
The group leader stepped forward and aimed at Vash. Kat managed to turn her head enough to see what was going on.
Vash was aware that the girl was still awake. He hissed through clenched teeth. 'There's no other way. I have to save her.' He tapped a pressure point on the girl's neck and felt her go limp almost instantly. He sighed and regretted what he did next.
(A/N: Hope you like it so far! I'll try to have the next chapter up soon! PLEASE REVIEW!!!)
