Gwaa!  I return, and have obviously not shot myself! ^_^ Unless this is my ghost with selective amnesia… o_0 Creepily ties in with another story that popped into my head today…Any hoo, new chappie, yay!  And now to reply to the nice, nice reviewers!

Scarlet Rurouni – Ha hah, I had another idea for that part, but the faint was funnier.  And I got more fun ideas of what to do with our little V-kun… *evil grin*

DarkShadowsfan – Hee hee, thanks!  I like your story a lot, too. ^_^ Hope you like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my two front teeth.  So it's kinda worthless to sue me.

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"Oof.  Man, he's heavy…" Jamie helped me haul Vash onto my bed. "Okay, first rule: if Mom and Dad call, he's not here," I said, giving Jamie a 'do-it-or-else' look.

"But they can't do anything out in Atlanta…" Jamie said, confused.

"Oh, yes, they can.  And besides, telling them a wanted gunman from another world is staying with us?  We'd never hear the end of it!"

"Correction: you'd never hear the end of it.  I didn't do anything." Jamie smirked.

I shrugged. "Fine.  Guess you don't care if I tell Mom how--"

"AAAHH! Okay, okay, I won't tell!"

"Good girl…" I said, patting Jamie on the head.

"Stop it!" she whined, pushing my hand away.

I grabbed Jamie's arm and dragged her out of the room. "Okay, you get pillows and a blanket, and I'll find something to eat."

"Why?"

"Comfort food, duh."

I walked into the kitchen, and started looking through the fridge. "Hmm…well, donuts would be the best thing, but we don't have any…and I'm low on salmon sandwiches…and salmon for that matter.  Maybe some beef and broccoli…orange chicken too.  Shame rice has horrible texture when re-heated…" I grabbed an assortment of Chinese takeout boxes and loaded two plates with food.  I shoved them in the microwave and set the timer for two minutes. "If Jamie's hungry, she can heat up some of her own…now where are those chopsticks?"

A loud smashing sound jolted me from my thoughts. "Crap!" I ran down the hall. "Don't have broken anything, don't have broken anything…" I burst into my bedroom. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

Vash looked like a little kid who just got caught doing something naughty.  My boombox lay on the floor. "I-I'm sorry," he stammered, as I inspected it, "I was looking at it, when I heard something outside and dropped it…"

I sighed with relief. "Well, it's not broken, so no harm done.  Just be careful, alright?" I looked at him. "What?"

"Dang…" he said. "I thought that was a dream."

I laughed. "Sorry, I'm flesh and blood, unless you're dreaming.  Which, in a weird way, I wish you were…" I sighed. "Well, what happened, happened, and we have to make the best of it.  Come on." I grabbed Vash's wrist. "Let's get you something to eat."

I hauled him down the hallway, and was intercepted by Jamie. "Is everything alright?  I heard you yell…"

"He just dropped my boombox.  It's not broken, as far as I can tell." I replied. "I'm just getting him something to eat." We continued down the hallway, and I released Vash's arm.

"Did you get me anything?" Jamie asked.

"Naw, you'll have to heat it up yourself."

I looked back at Vash. He seems quiet…heh, maybe he's using a 'self hypnotic suggestion to keep himself from freaking out.'

We entered the kitchen.  I opened the microwave and pulled out the two steaming plates. "Do you know how to use chopsticks?" I asked Vash.

"Uhh…no, I don't." He seemed off-balance.  I grinned.

"Relax.  I'm not going to kill you.  Jamie might bore you out of your mind, but…"

Jamie shouted a "Hey!" at that comment, and I laughed, putting the plates on the table. "Sit down, food might help you settle down."

Hesitantly, as though he wasn't sure if this was a dream or not, he sat down, and began to eat.  For a couple of minutes, we were silent, just eating our food.

"Are either of you two even alive?!" Jamie griped, snapping me out of my reverie.  A quick glance in Vash's direction confirmed my guess of him being in a similar mindset as me. "Ugh!  It's like watching old people sleep, except you aren't old bats!"

"Have a bit of a tongue today, Jamie?" I asked, staring at her with half lidded eyes.  She replied with a raspberry.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever." I looked over at Vash, who was still as confused as I'd ever seen him. Must…resist…urge…to…glomp… "I might as well tell you what happened." Even if I barely understand it myself…

I dug into my pocket, and pulled out the little charm. "As far as I can tell, the whole problem revolves around this locket.  The old man I bought this from called it the Closet Locket." I fiddled with it as I spoke. "According to what he said, when a person uses this, they're magically transported from this world to another.  And if you take anything from that world to this one, you can't return until the next new moon." I looked up. "That's all I know."

There was silence as Vash and my little sister absorbed this information. "So…I'm stuck here?" the gunman asked.

"…yeah."

"Lemme see that thing." I looked up to see Jamie leaning across the table, holding her hand out.

"I see no harm in it," I said, handing the locket over.  Jamie immediately began to inspect it from all sides.  I turned back to my new guest. "Are you okay?" I asked, lightly touching his hand.

He smiled at me, but it didn't seem sincere. "Yeah, I'm alright."

"Hey, the little door won't open!"

"Huh?" I stared at Jamie dumbfoundedly.

She glared at me. "I'm not lying!  It's like it was super-glued shut somehow!"

I rolled my eyes. "Great.  And with my luck, the only way to solve this problem soner is trapped inside that thing." I slammed my head on the table. "Ugh…"

Jamie, taking the hint, dragged Vash out of the kitchen. "Come on, I'll show you where you'll be sleeping, and…" Her voice became muffled as she went down the hall.  I closed my eyes.

Godspamit, why me?

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So?  How much did it suck? Huh?

Please review!