A/N: Whoo! Another chapter! And more random cameos!! ^_^x Well, so it's a mini cameo… but still! It's there! And… now that I actually have a few reviewers, I am going to take a moment to thank you…
Thestral1: er…. not really a thanks to her perse…. though I do owe her much thanks for the idea for this little thing… but this is more of a shameless plug for her originally version of this fic (mine is actually a spin-off of hers!) which is called "The Student, The Wizard, and The Closet". So go find it and read it! It's good!
Saberpilot: ^_^x I'm glad you like it! And see? I updated!
Jeril Dragonsoul: I know what you mean, fics like that are getting a bit redundant aren't they? ~_~x;; However, I promise that this will not turn into one of those kinds of fics, as it is supposed to be set in the real world. Therefore, my character's biggest problem will probably be figuring out how to get Vash back to his own time.... of course, that's not to say she can't at least have a crush on him… ^_^x But no saving the world and definitely no cliché sunsets for me!
Sailor-Armitage: ^_^x YAY! I like it when people love my writing! So here's the update!
xRingo-Chanx: ACK! You caught me… ^_^x;; I was wondering how long I could get away with that before someone would point it out. But not to worry… just for you I added in an explanation. So review and let me know if you think it's too OOC! ^_^x And btw, thanks for all the wonderful comments! It's nice to know that I seem to have his character down!
ShadowDemon+Gengar: If you thought that was good, then go read Thestral1's fic, "The Student, The Wizard, and The Closet" (--shameless plug) It's done in "Stephie's" POV and it's full of weird Lockhart goodness! Incidentally, this is really just a spin-off of that one… but I'm glad you like it!
Keep the reviews coming please! They're what I live for! And now for more Vash goodness!! ^_^x
Disclaimer: I own an alarm clock…. that's about it…
The Student, the Typhoon, and the Closet
**Chapter 4**
Vash and I stepped off of Stephie's front porch and out into the pouring rain once more. And once again, I was faced with the task of trying to fit both my self and Vash under my rather small umbrella. Now, normally, this shouldn't have caused me such problems. But, when you take into consideration the fact that Vash is just over seven feet tall, while I am only about five and a half feet tall, give or take a few inches, it presents at least one major problem. In other words, I couldn't quite figure out exactly how to hold the umbrella high enough to shield him from the downpour. Still, Vash didn't seem quite as perplexed by this as I did.
"Er… Vash?"
He turned back to look at me, soaking wet. "Yeah?"
"Um… I get the fact that you've never really seen rain before and all… and it's probably great fun for you to be standing out here getting soaked… but you do realize that you're just going to get sick by doing that, right?" I was trying my hardest to keep in mind the fact that Vash couldn't possibly know everything about this world, no matter how much Earth history Rem may have taught him, nothing compares to the real thing.
"Oh… rain makes you sick?" he asked, quite confused.
He always seems to be confused… I snorted at such a thought. Well of course! You'd be just as confused if you wound up on an entirely different world! Shaking my head, "No Vash, the rain doesn't make you sick. But standing out in the cold while you're soaking wet will."
"Oh! That makes sense I guess…"
Hrmmm… I wondered, now if I can just figure out how to- "Hey!" My musings had effectively been cut short by Vash plucking the umbrella out of my grasp… and holding it, almost chivalrously, over the both of us.
"What?" he said, giving me one of his best smiles.
I merely rolled my eyes, silly Liz, you're not allowed to fall for a nonexistent character just because he happens to act like a perfect gentleman! Looking back up at him, I flashed him a grateful smile. "Thanks." I began to lead the way once more, "Come on… let's go get you those donuts!"
~~~*~~~
Fortunately for me, the rest of our little adventure to the donut shop was uneventful. Well, except for when Vash nearly convinced me to buy the shop's entire stock of fresh donuts…. damn persuasive gunman! Upon returning home, I realized that I still had some work left to do, by way of cleaning my room. Turning my key in the lock, I opened the door and tossed my raincoat in the closet. Taking one look at Vash, who was happily munching from the infamous pink cardboard box I had just purchased for him, I realized that he was still dripping wet, despite our best efforts to stay dry. With a heavy sigh, I gently retrieved the donuts from him. "Here. Let me have your coat."
"What for?" he asked, suddenly wary of me.
I rolled my eyes, "Because it's wet. You can't wear wet clothing all the time, you'd freeze. Give it to me and I'll hang it up to dry and you can have it back later, I promise." Reluctantly, he handed over the trademark red leather accessory, and stood before me in the same attire he was shown in at the end of the series.
Handing him back the donuts, a thought struck me, "Hey wait… you got rid of this…" I said confused, indicating the coat I was now hanging up in the closet.
He realized what I meant, and gave a small nervous chuckle. "Well… I got kinda attached and wound up going back for it…"
I smirked, trying not to laugh. The most feared man on all of Gunsmoke, has a 'security blanket' of sorts!
"What?" he pouted through another donut.
"Oh nothing… just random thoughts." Regaining my composure, I remembered the work that awaited me once more. "Alright, you can stay here and eat your donuts or whatever you want to do, but I've got to go finish cleaning my room. So stay out of trouble alright?" He merely nodded his response, too obsessed with the donut box to formulate a coherent reply.
I groaned upon entering my room. It was relatively clean, except for the packing boxes that were scattered about. I was planning on repainting soon ,and therefore had packed my entire existence into boxes. Unfortunately I needed to put them all up on the top shelf of my closet, which just happened to be a) a bit too high for me to reach without the aid of a chair or stool, and b) the boxes themselves were all rather heavy, making it exceedingly difficult for me to lift them just off the ground. "Damn…" I muttered, "I've got to do this anyway… but they're so heavy!" Sighing, I went back to the task at hand, and once more began to heave the boxes up onto the top shelf of my closet.
"Urg…" Bloody heavy boxes… I closed my eyes in frustration as I shoved the box onto the shelf, and was quite surprised to feel the weight suddenly leave my hands. Did it fall? I quickly opened my eyes, only to find Vash standing next to me, and the box safely on the top shelf. "Er…"
"You know… those boxes look much to heavy for you to be lifting yourself." he said with a grin, powered sugar all over the front of his face; left over from his last donut no doubt.
I stifled a laugh, "um… you have powdered sugar on your face…" I managed to say without so much as a snicker.
He blushed a pale shade of pink as he snatched a tissue from the box I keep on my desk to rid himself of the offending sugar. "Why don't you get someone to help you with those?" he said in an obvious attempt to change the subject as he gestured to the numerous boxes.
I rolled my eyes, "I'd love to, but there's no one here to ask. Unless you think my dog could manage it." I retorted with a playful smirk.
Vash looked a little bewildered at this. "I'm here," he began, "You could ask me to help you."
Erk… right…"I hadn't thought of that…" I admitted a bit sheepishly. "I'm just not used to having you around yet…"
He merely grinned disarmingly at me.
"So… would you mind helping me put these away Vash?"
He grinned once more, and began to pick up boxes and place them on the shelf effortlessly, as though each was as light as a feather. All I could do was stand on my chair in awe.
In a matter of minutes, all the boxes had been neatly stacked and put away, courtesy of one very tall, very strong gunman. I, however, was still standing on my chair, staring at Vash, lost in thought. He's a lot stronger than he looks… I swear he lifted a few of those one handed… and he really is as nice and helpful as he seemed in the anime. I just wish he had never had go through all that… why is it no one ever bothered to see this side of him before? Or is it just that he's hidden himself from people so much over the years that he's never given them a chance to see-
"-ey! Hello? Are you okay?" Vash said, waving a hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my reverie.
"Huh? Oh! Yeah… I'm fine…" I muttered, still trying to figure it out.
"Um… do you need some help getting down or something?" he asked, noticing that I was still atop my desk chair.
Baka! How long have you just been standing here? "Er… no, I can get down my-" suddenly my feet were no longer safely atop the chair, but hovering mid air as Vash gently picked me up and set me down on the ground. Trying my hardest not to blush at the contact, I managed to mutter ,"um… thanks…"
He smiled, "So what do we do now?"
"Er…." I thought hard, what exactly are you supposed to do with anime character that's walked through your closet? "I have no idea."
He looked thoughtful for a moment, and then shrugged. "Neither do I."
I laughed. "Of course you don't! You've never been here before!"
He laughed as well, "You're right! So…?"
I grinned, "Well, I could make dinner…"
He smiled happily, apparently Vash the Stampede would never say no to a free meal. "Alright then. I'll go make us something…" I said as I walked into the kitchen, Vash in tow.
~~~*~~~
While Vash sat down to eat his serving of the frozen pizza I had thrown in the microwave, I went back to my room to call Stephie, as I had realized that Vash still had no clothes beside the red coat and the pajamas he had always worn in the anime.
I picked up the phone, dialed, and waited while it rang on the other end.
After a few rings, I heard her pick up the receiver and manage a squeaky "Hello?"
I sighed in relief at her friendly voice, "Stephie? It's Liz."
"Oh, hello Liz. How are you?"
"Tired." I confessed, though grinning. It had been a rather long day between getting to her house, fetching donuts, and cleaning my room, though Vash did do most of the work on the last bit. "And you?"
She sighed into the phone, "Same. It's quite strange having a wizard staying here, especially one that is addled and yet very egocentric at the same time."
"Yes... and having a rather... energetic gunman about the house makes for some 'interesting' times." I muttered, remembering how he had bounced around in excitement at the donut shop. "Anyway... the reason I called was I was wondering... have you gotten Lockhart clothes yet?"
I was greeted with another miserable sigh. "No, I haven't yet. I was planning on going tomorrow. Why?"
"Because I haven't either.... and I was just thinking that Lockhart might be a bit more of a handful than Vash.... at least donut-boy's read about earth and lived without magic..."
She laughed. "Yes, he certainly will be a handful. Not only does he not know anything about 'muggles' but he's also got that horrible short term memory."
Laughing along with her, I said "Well, what do you say we go shopping together then? I'll help you keep and eye on the wizard... and you can help me keep the fiend away from the donut stand!" I finished with an amused chuckle.
I could almost hear her smile with her next statement. "Yes, that sounds fairly fabulous. You do realize, that you've quite made my day don't you?"
I grinned, though I was suddenly interrupted by Vash, as he had finished his dinner. "Hey! Are you ordering more donuts??" he asked eagerly. Placing a hand over the receiver, I turned and responded to his question first. "No Vash! I am NOT ordering donuts over the phone!" Turning back to the phone, I replied, "Yes, I'm sure. So, tomorrow then, at the mall?"
She laughed, having obviously heard my remark to Vash. "Sounds perfect, what time?"
Pausing to think for a moment, I decided on a good time. "How about around 12:00? Then we can have lunch and such as well."
"Fairly fabulous! It's a plan then."
"OH! Where shall we meet? The mall's a fairly large place you know..." I said, thinking that one could easily get lost if they did not know where they were going.
"How about in front of the Disney Store on the second floor?"
I grinned. "Sounds fabulous... so we'll meet there around 12:00 then?"
"Yesh, Disney Store at noon. Fabulous-" She was suddenly cut off by a slightly more masculine voice saying something to the effect of 'what is that and are you talking into the weird thing'. "Uh, I'd better go. See you then, Liz. Say hi to Vash for me."
"Alright. See you tomorrow then! OH! And good luck with Lockhart! 'Bye!" I clicked off the cordless phone, and turned to Vash. "You know, you're not supposed to interrupt people when they're having a conversation."
"Sorry…" he muttered sheepishly. "So… what were you doing?"
I grinned, "Arranging to get you some new clothes…"