Disclaimer: Isn't this always first? One way or another I'm going to have to find a way to permanently stick the 'disclaimer' to the beginning of each chapter I write . . . Damn things . . . *Sigh* I do not own Trigun. THERE!! I said it!! *Psychologists around the world cheer at the accomplishment*
But anyway. This is my third written Trigun fic. I dunno which is going up first. Eh, I might've already uploaded one; who knows.
In a nutshell this is what might happen if a woman who had Vash's speed used it all for stealing and decided to steal from him, while he's asleep nonetheless.
And this here is . . .
Chapter Five: Finding You Again
It hurt to sit up, but I did it. My back was still in pain, like it should still be after only five days of healing. I had to get a hold of something to eat, and drink, and then I had to pack up and leave. Shouldn't be too hard, right? I stood up in just as much pain as before, but somehow, I felt like I was being helped. Are you watching over me, Nor? I thought, and then pinpointed the feeling of a hand on my arm. I laughed a little, knowing who it was before I could look. "You haven't been run out of town yet?" I asked, and got a light chuckle in reply.
"Not yet, but that should happen either today or tomorrow with my luck." I turned still with a smile and met aqua green eyes below spiked blonde hair.
"And you came back, I presume?"
"I couldn't just leave you," he said back, as though it was obvious.
I laughed again, and when I caught his eyes again, my laughter died but smile remained. How had I never seen this before? He not only had the most adorable smile but as well a very handsome face. And with that little freckle beneath his eye. . . He was about as close to perfect as a man could get, in my opinion.
"So that's what a smile looks like on you," he said, and flicked my nose, making me wrinkle it in reflex. "Now that's cute."
I almost blushed at his observation, but went on anyway. "This has got to be the most amazing chance encounter I've ever been in, Vash."
"Really? How so?"
"I was just about to go find you."
"Aww, thanks!" He smiled and rubbed the back of his head, and then grabbed both my hands in his and hugged me with the other one. "I just knew you really loved me!" he claimed, tears that I couldn't decipher as fake or real streaming in thick waves down his face. I could barely keep from laughing. "It's so great to be loved, isn't it? Now," he said, turning to completely face me and hold my hands in both of his, "we can get married!" He hugged me with both arms as I had a gaping smile stuck to my face in stunned silence. Was this guy for real?! So what if I'd asked that before, or knew he was - this was still unbelievable!
"Um - no. Sorry, but no marriage is going to happen between us," I said, pushing him back gently. He had the saddest look on his face now, but I could tell from years of doing the same that he was faking it. "Even though I just might want it - " I was willing to give him that much hope - "that would be a solid no."
His face perked up at the first half of the sentence but fell again at the second half. He brushed away two tears that couldn't be fake and smiled, hugging me again.
"What's with you and hugs? Don't you know my back is hurt?"
Vash kind of yelped and jumped back, smiling nervously and giving me something like a peace sign except his fingers were crossed. "Sorry!" he sang out.
"Uh huh." I raised a brow at him but couldn't help laughing again. It has been a really long time since I last laughed like I meant it, but now I felt addicted. And this guy could really just make you laugh all day long, couldn't he? So funny, and yet he didn't seem to know it.
"So why was it that you were going to look for me?" he asked, letting his arm fall to his side.
"You are the most amazing man I've ever met. Probably the most magnetic, as well. You not only managed to completely destroy my life in one day, but also left me wanting for you to stay as part of life, whatever was left of it." I saw he was confused about what I had said, maybe hurt, but also rather proud of himself and a little bit embarrassed and surprised. "How long have you been watching me?"
"Since the middle of yesterday's yesterday."
"Two days ago?" He nodded. "Just say that next time. So you saw me sitting and doing nothing for about day and a half?" Again he nodded.
"I tried to wake you up but you wouldn't move. What were you doing?"
"Self-meditation. So to speak I went inside myself to see what I should do since my life as a thief died at your own hands. As it turns out it took my three days of waiting to meet the tests."
"There were tests?" I nodded. "What kind?"
"The kind that if you fail you could die. And yes, I know that sounds weird, but if I died within myself my body would cease to work properly. It would eat and sleep, and little more. Myself would no longer exist. I had to go through five tests, each much more dangerous and trying than the last. I very nearly did die during the last." I took a breath and thought about what to say next. "Along with each of the I had a memory that I couldn't cope with return and as I went they became harder to bear. As well I had Nor as my guide, or, a representation of him. He didn't really help much." I shook my head to get off the thought. "The last one I had to go through was a river smothered in flames. Below the water I had to deal with. . . Nor and the tragedy that happened to him. Above I had to avoid the flames, and didn't really make it out alive, so to speak." I sighed. "I'm lucky to have been strong enough to make it all the way through the five tests and back out again. In fact, I should be praising the gods and moons and stars and anything else that will listen for making it out alive. And now I'm stuck with having to rebuild my life for the. . .third time." I paused there, suddenly realizing how depressing that sounded. I shook my head. That came out wrong. I looked directly at his eyes. "Understand?"
"Pretty much. And how is this connected to me?"
I laughed, so completely sure that he was doing this on purpose that I didn't even consider the possibility that he could be telling the truth. After I concluded my humor I glanced at him, seeing his confused gaze and turning to the side. "You're connected to all of this because you remind me of Nor in more ways than I can count. The way you act, the things you say, the effect you cause on me, everything. After Nor died is when I dedicated my life to being cold and completely emotionless and unbreakable. It worked, for the longest time, but I learned two things from Nor. One, I have no defense against him what so ever, and two, there's no way I could ever be completely emotionless." I turned back to face him again. "Just as I had no defense against Nor, I find I have none against you. As well, I suppose I could put this as, you woke me up." I paused there to gather my thoughts, and ended up with a very good example. "Ever since Nor was killed, I hid away all my feelings, putting them to sleep, you could say. That's where they've been, until you showed up."
"I think I got it," Vash replied, but still looked a little confused. "I think."
I laughed again; this grown man was the funniest thing I've ever encountered. But all thoughts ceased when there was pounding up the stairs to this room, like people were fighting each other to get all the way up. My eyes met his before I pointed to the huge broken was-a-window and spun to gather my few things. I rarely unpack my things, so all I had to do was put my Blaze into my bag. [DL: Think duffel bag that you wear on your back with a strap across your chest - shoulder to hip. Got it? Good.] Vash was halfway out the window and looking down.
"You want to live forever?" I asked as I ran right past him and leapt out the window. Due to my current physical status I had to roll to keep from hurting myself further once I touched ground. Three story falls were nothing for me - not anymore. I stood up as two booted feet landed right after me and Vash smiled at me.
"You want to die young?" he shot back and we both started running. Rounding one corner we found ourselves right next to the Insurance Girls - who were running from their own pod of angry townspeople.
"Hey girls," I smiled, and the taller girl - Milly, was it? - smiled right back.
Meryl, though, was not pleased. "You!" she snapped at me. "This is entirely your fault!!" She stopped and started to pull out handcuffs again. I rolled my eyes and grabbed her arm, yanking her to keep up with us.
"You want to end up in that?" I asked, jerking my head in the direction of the lynch mob that was running after us.
She was about to scream - and then she looked behind us and started to run faster. Much better. Hurt back or no hurt back, I was going to our-run these people chasing us, probably for the infamous Vash the Stampede, but not overlooking the working-her-way-up Thief Beauty, as I was nicknamed. Something to do with my tight starting out ensemble. Deep, deep black and curve-hugging, just one big spandex-like piece of cloth I sewed myself which included a mask. These people were smarter than I thought, however; even though I changed outfits and became better very quickly, they recognized my style.
As we reached the edge of town I caught the sight of a certain sheriff that had a sole purpose of catching me. He knew my face, my technique, and my targets. "Oh, no," I said, stopping and starting to turn around. This guy was so set on catching me and bringing me in that he had in fact studied me and knew my exact fighting style, move for move.
"What are you doing?" Vash snapped, stopping and trying to pull me towards the exit of town.
"Taking my chances with the mob!" I said back, trying my best to make his hand let go. But as far as I knew, that was mechanical as well and useless to struggle against. I counted seven bullets hit the ground right near me and changed my mind again, thinking it safer to be taken in than killed. "Screw the mob! I'll take my chances in jail!" I said mainly to myself.
"In jail?" Vash said, finally having let go and slightly panting next to me.
"Him," I said back, gesturing at the sheriff in a black trench coat with his head down. "He's been chasing me for nine years now," I panted out.
"That's great and all but in a few more minutes we're going to be dead!" Meryl shouted, obviously ticked that I had so unceremoniously joined their little group. The last to join - right at the edge of town and sitting on a motorcycle near a jeep was what I took as a Priest, black clothing and hair with a giant cross on the back of the two-wheeler.
He tossed a set of keys into the air and started revving, just as Meryl and Milly hopped into the jeep. Vash caught the keys and ushered me to join the pod of women in the back and started the vehicle.
"Where do you think you're going?!" the sheriff screamed at me.
"Anywhere but here!!! Unless you want to be lynched I suggest you leave as well!!" I said, pointing at the mob that was about to reach him. He had taken a few fast steps towards me, but now he was staring bug-eyed at the townsfolk, and his cigarette fell from his lips. Silly little sandy-haired man, I thought, never learns to pay attention to anybody else.
"Wait for me!!" he screamed, heading for the still vacant passenger seat. I was about to scream "No!!" when Vash waved him over a yelled a "Be quick!"
Now my eyes bulged out; this man has been chasing me, wanting to get me under arrest for nine years and here Vash was letting him hitch a ride with us. "What do you think you're doing?!" I yelled at the blonde man in the driver's seat. We took off quickly, almost giving all five of us whiplash, and the sheriff sighed.
He turned to Vash. "Sheriff Martin Green. Thanks for helping me out."
"How did you get here without a Thomas?" Vash asked, seemingly dumbfounded.
"I didn't. My Thomas ran off a few minutes back. I guess I now know why. What's you're name, sir?"
"Vash the Stampede. Nice to meet you," he added, holding out a hand.
Martin's eyes grew wide for the second time and, if he had had a cigarette in his mouth, I could tell it would have fallen out by now. "V-Vash the. . . Stampede?" he repeated.
"Why does everyone have such a hard time with that?" Vash wondered aloud to himself.
I smirked and leaned forward, poking Martin's shoulder. Shakily he turned to face the owner of the finger that nudged him, and was instantly out of his stupor. "Howdy, cowboy," I said, my usual greeting to him. "What in the world are you doing way out here in jeep with two outlaws?"
"Chasing one of the them!" he snapped, and reached back to grab me. Even if he knew all my moves, and in a real fight could easily be my match, he still forgot that in situations like these he had no hand on me, let alone an upper one. I leaned back and kicked his jaw, and a second later he was unconscious.
The guy on the motorcycle was to the right of us now, and looking at the three women including me in the back seat. He laughed and spoke clearly to Vash. "Why do all the outlaws get all the girls?" he yelled.
Meryl turned dark, Milly looked a little confused by what he meant, and I somewhat eagerly leaned forward to rest my elbow on the armrest and my chin on my hand.
"What girls?" Vash laughed back. "All I see are three lovely ladies!"
I shook my head. "Sorry, but I'm no lady. I'm a full blown woman," I added, leaning back again. "Who's the other guy?" I asked.
"I am Nicholas D. Wolfwood," the priest introduced himself. "A traveling Priest from - "
"Does it really matter?" I interrupted. "We're all travelers here."
"And who do I have the pleasure of speaking with now?" he asked. Had he not been wearing sunglasses I would have thought him charming. I nudged Milly traded places with her, leaning a hand over the space between myself and this Nicholas.
"Aluna Hart, professional thief and master of the Martial Arts," I introduced myself, and with a laugh, Nicholas shook my hand. "It's absolutely smashing to meet you," I said, using an old British accent. It was the one I used when saying "I'll use big words for you, cause I can tell you can use them too," as opposed to the Southern accent I used for just mocking. Like my "Howdy, cowboy," for Martin.
"And who's this man?" Nicholas asked, gesturing at the man in the front seat.
"Sheriff of Barkston, Martin Green. My own hometown. The one and only Sheriff dedicated to catching me and taking me back to be thrown in my hometown's jail. You know Vash, I suppose?"
"A little too well at times," he admitted. We were still talking loudly, even though we left the last town a while ago and we had slowed down considerably.
I laughed and sat back, feeling a bit of spit gathered in my mouth. If anyone ever needed more proof that I was no lady, one would just have to watch me. I tilted my head back, took a nice deep breath, and launched the saliva into the air. I spun to watch it fly back once the wind caught it and smack the ground several feet behind us. If I had not been taught by Nor to use simple mathematics in everyday life, or had that ability in my blood from Firebreeze, I would not have been able to judge how fast we were going. Yes, just by my spit.
I knew how it worked. [DL: I have the idea, but not the formula, so no numbers will be used. It should work.] How high the spit flew, how long it took it to land, and how far away the spit landed from where I had spit. We were going about fifty now.
"You spit?!" Nicholas yelled, staring at me with his glasses halfway down his nose.
"I said I was no lady," I said back. "Keep your eyes on the road!" I advised, pointing ahead of us.
"Whoa!" Nick said, swerving enough to the right to miss a tall hunk of rock that was just. . .there.
I smirked and quirked my brow, even as he continued to give me a weird look. I leaned forward and let myself lean against my arm on Vash's seat. "How far to the next place?"
He glanced at the fuel meter thingy. [DL: What's it called?] "Farther than we have fuel for. Hey Wolfwood," he called out, looking over at the man. "Forget to fill the tank or just stole the jeep?"
"Kind of both," he admitted.
"You call him Wolfwood?" I asked, and Vash nodded. I sighed. "So what are we going to do?"
"Drive until night falls, take some rest, and get as far as we can on whatever is left. Then walk."
"What about that motorcycle?"
That got him thinking. He looked at Wolfwood again. "How much fuel is in that thing?"
"Enough!"
"Good!" Vash lowered his voice to talk to me. "I guess he'll go ahead while we wait. Come back with more fuel." He shrugged.
"Mm-hmm." I sat back again and looked at M&M. I smiled; that was a cute joke. Calling them M&M.
They seemed to be in a deep discussion. I caught the words "Aluna," "Vash," and "Sheriff Martin" a few times pretty soon on. Meryl looked like she wanted to abandon me and Martin and "let justice be served" while Milly was apposing that thought. Something about being nice for once and that I couldn't be that bad, if I would care enough to give Meryl a push to keep running when she stopped.
I frowned and looked at the man who had been following me around for nine straight years, always so close but never close enough. She must still be angry about me handcuffing her to her friend. I can't blame her. I am pretty damn cold most of the time. Why am I still traveling with these guys? I could have so easily hopped out and left Martin to cringe in fear of Vash and get a really big head start. Actually, that's not a bad idea. In fact it was, and four days ago, I would have done it, too. I would have leapt out of the jeep and started trekking by myself, in no particular direction, living with whatever I had inside my bag. Thinking of it. . .
I reached around me to unzip the pocket I made especially for my heart, hidden rather well, and took it out. It has been several years now since I looked at it when the suns touched it with light and made all the colors stand out brilliantly, and now seemed to be the perfect time.
I smiled and took off the bag, putting it on the floor under my feet, and just rolled the heart around in my hands, letting the light bounce off of it and create shimmering colors that dazzled all who saw it. I myself was so intrigued by the glimmers that I did not know I had two more admirers staring at the beautiful spectrums of colors and lights until Milly spoke up.
"That's beautiful; what is it?" she asked, startling me so I almost dropped it.
"It's called Blaze, from my planet Firebreeze. It's the last that's left in the universe - that I know of, I mean."
"It's so gorgeous! Don't you think so, Meryl?" she added, turning around with big crescent eyes and the most innocent smile I think I'd ever seen.
"It is a beautiful piece of jewelry, but who'd you steal it from?" Before I could do more than open my mouth she went on. "I know your story, Aluna, so who'd you take it from?"
"If you'd shut up for a second I'd answer you!" I snapped. "I didn't steal this from anybody! It was a gift from my late lover," I added, a little more softly.
"Oh, that's so sad!" Milly said, and hugged me, while Meryl looked on kind of stunned. "I'm so sorry Meryl had to say something that could very well bring up painful memories! Did you love him? Who was he? How did he die?"
I couldn't respond. I was stuck in a hug, clutching my piece of Nor, while this tall woman bombarded me with questions about Nor, right after telling me she was sorry if her friend had brought up painful memories. The memories that came up were taken directly from my own words, making them little scenes of Nor and I together while making love or playing silly little games afterwards.
"Which do you prefer," Nor asked, crawling over the sheets to touch Aluna's nose, "a kiss on your thigh or you cute tummy?" Aluna laughed. "Tough choice."
"Hey, what's up?" Aluna asked, giggling like a school girl as Nor got in bed. "Me, for starters," Nor replied in sexy voice. He leaned up close and nipped her ear. "Can we do something about that?"
"Why do men have such a fascination with women's breasts?" Aluna asked. Nor shrugged. "I don't know. I'll have to take a look," he added teasingly and lifted up the sheet that covered her chest. She laughed as he looked completed absorbed in the "research." "I don't really know. Maybe I have to touch them to find out." Aluna laughed harder.
The sunlight poured through the window, illuminating the couple tangled in the sheets. Aluna was awake, but didn't move or make a sound. She loved mornings like this, when she could just watch Nor's face as he slept.
"Aluna? Are you okay?" Milly said, her light voice just nudging my eardrums.
"Yeah," I said, but my shaky, hollow, and somewhat scratchy voice betrayed me. I looked down, at my Heart, and sniffed as I saw a color of blue that matched Nor's eyes perfectly. I missed him so much, I saw him in everything. Or, at least, I do when I'm not "working."
"Are you sure?" Milly asked, rubbing her hand against my back.
In a much more pathetic voice than before, I croaked out a "No" and dropped the heart in my lap and cried into my hands. I blame Vash for this. If I hadn't met him, I wouldn't be craving Nor so much more now than I had when my life was run by the pure instinct to go on without feelings. Now that I had them back, and fully functional, I was starting to get worried I was going to commit suicide to get away from the loneliness and pain.
But, as Milly embraced me and started apologizing quickly, I heard a voice in my head saying, "You're not alone, not anymore. You have people here, with you, and the only reason why you would feel alone now is because you want to. Now either throw away that whole 'soul-searching' bit that took you so much pain and time to go through, or accept the fact that you don't have to be alone unless you choose to be." I smiled. That was either Nor pointing me in the right direction even after all this time, or it was Vash, my newly acquired internal guide. Have fun duking it out, I thought, aiming that thought at Nor's voice inside my head. You have competition.
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Hallelujah I'm done!! And now for the thankies:
Sapphire
Wait - after all this time I get one new reviewer!! Ah! *Stares at the screen* You're gypping me! *Scoffs and turns around, muttering about ungrateful readers who don't review*
See ya!
