4

In the cleared street people began throwing tomatoes, dung, and anything they could at Nick as he was escorted by Knives and his men to the center where Cain waited.

Cain threw his hat off and readied his hand on the revolver under his poncho.

Time ticked down to the hour. Nick began whispering prayers, waiting for the bullet to come.

The clock hit 12

BANG

Nick's pistol was smoking and Cain held a bullet hole in his chest. Nick looked down in horror at how he drew his gun so quickly like the old days.

Knives walked up to him. "See, it just feels natural doesn't it?" he asked as the men took the pistol from him and chained him to the post at the saloon.

"Thought you weren't gonna fight preacher." Chapel said, walking off. Vash sat by him.

"You're fast. I knew you were no ordinary preacher, I hope I don't have to fight you." Vash said.

"You can go, but I can't. I was the only one who fired my gun." Nick said.

"I guess this town doesn't want a preacher." Vash said

"I wasn't always like this. I-" Nick stopped when he saw Knives.

"Nick was an outlaw, like me. We used to ride together and go on killing sprees. There were times when you couldn't stop us." Knives said before going into the saloon.

"Is that true?" Vash asked him, with an angry look on his face.

"Yes...." Nick said looking down.

"I should've left you for dead." Vash said, standing up and then walked off.

Later Vash saw a young girl with brown hair being cuddled by the man with the saxophone. Midvalley was whispering things into her ear.

Vash said nothing and just looked.

"What are you looking at Blondie?" Midvalley said.

"A girl and a letch." Vash said,

"I gotta be going now." Milly, the girl, said.

Midvalley walked up to Vash.

"One of these days I'm gonna play you a lullaby." He said, making a cutthroat gesture at Vash.

Knives walked onto the street with his gun belt on and stood in front of Bolstalk.

"Mr. Bolstalk, I wanted to ask you about the plantations at July. Did you really cause that?" Knives asked

"I sure did." Bolstalk said, combing his mustache

"You must be the most dangerous man in the world, or a big liar." Knives said, taking off his white coat, wearing a red vest underneath.

"It's too bad you didn't get to see it happen." Bolstalk said.

"Oh but I did. You see I was the one who caused the July massacre, and I doubt a lying bastard like you was even in the next town." Knives said.

Clock hit the 12

BANG

There was a gaping hole in Bolstalk's hand.

"How about a left handed draw? You boasted about being good with both." Knives said, stretching.

Bolstalk went for his left gun

BANG

There was a hole in his left hand now too; Knives had drawn with his left hand to fire this time.

"Grim Reaper Bolstalk, the infamous outlaw who single-handedly destroyed an entire town. A lie." Knives said, firing into Bolstalk's stomach, killing him.

Knives was applauded by the reluctant audience as he went back into the mansion.

The people began looting the body to find anything they could until there was nothing left on him.

Vash turned away after seeing Knives fight; he ran back into his hotel room and closed his eyes as more bad dreams haunted him.

"What is going on?" Vash said in the escape pod.

"Vash, take care of Knives." A voice said. "No Rem, no!!!!" Vash shouted. Behind him a voice chuckled.

A knock on the door woke Vash from his nightmare; he sat up quickly pointing his gun at the door. It was Kaite.

"They're calling for you out on the street." He said.

Vash stood up and put his red coat back on.

"Mister Vash....good luck." Kaite said

Vash patted him on the head. "Thanks kid." He said.

Vash walked outside, where everyone waited.

"There's a click before the strike, wait for it." Nick whispered to Vash as he walked by.

Vash stood at one end of the street while Descartes stood at the other end, twirling his boomerang.

"The last fight of the day. You may fire at the first chime of the clock." The bartender said.

"You're dead now boy. Look at you, trembling like a leaf." Descartes said.

Vash listened and waited for the click like Nick said.

It hit just before 12

BANG

Descartes was sent to the ground, holding the wound on his shoulder.

"The Blonde man is the winner." The bartender said.

"Whoa, he's fast." Legato said.

Vash spun his silver pistol and put it back in the holster; he saw Meryl and got a victory kiss from her. He then looked up at Knives who raised his glass to him.

Kaite walked alongside Vash "I think you're amazing." He said.

"Thank you, I am amazing, but no more then you or anyone else." Vash said.

"Thanks." He said as he passed Nick.

"Fighting will resume tomorrow." The bartender said as everyone went inside.