AN: Oh boy…well this chapter particularly wrote itself! And when I mean wrote itself I mean it…I have nothing to do with this. I was in the kitchen getting a sandwich and the words just appeared (lol). Well umm…anyway tell me what you think?

Enjoy.

Knives was sleeping, curled up tightly in a sleeping bag that his brother had lent him. Beside him…although as far away as possible and still within the fires warmth Meryl sat.

It was nighttime and the moons overhead shone brightly down.

Meryl smirked; nighttime…a strange word on this planet.

Night was never truly dark here. With five large moons that were almost always full, it was hard to find true darkness.

So it wasn't the night that had stopped the three determined searchers. It was rather the car they had been traveling in. About three or four hours ago it had broken down. Deserts weren't the best traveling conditions for vehicles with the heat and sand, so it wasn't unexpected.

Still Meryl couldn't help but wonder at her luck…or more specifically Vash's luck. Nothing mechanical seemed to last long around him. The last few days was proof enough of that…so far the count was, one sand steamer and a total of two cars.

Well there was good news this time around. The car could be fixed, so Knives and Vash had worked on the car until dark, then Vash worked alone.

The reason…well the reason was obvious. Knives had looked like he was about to pass out. Yet…he hadn't complained nor did he take lying down easily. It had been a spectacular fight between the brothers.

Meryl frowned deeply as she stared though the flames at the sleeping form of Knives.

What is he thinking? Why is he pushing himself like this?

Meryl sighed attracting the attention of her husband. With a grunt Vash fell down beside her to take a small break. It was hard trying to fix something at night even with the light of the moons.

"Vash…is he sick? I mean…I've never seen him healthy before so I don't know what he's supposed to look like…but he just…well…"

Meryl left off willing Vash to finish her thought.

"He looks like shit?"

"Ya."

Vash leaned against his wife smiling as Meryl ran her fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes enjoying the feel of her fingers.

Knives looks terrible. He's so thin now…like he hasn't been eating well. And I actually had to threaten him to go to sleep. I could tell he was about to collapse. I don't get it. Knives has always worked for number one. I don't think I ever remember a time he didn't eat or sleep over something. Brother…what is eating at you? I hardly recognize you.

Vash studied his brother. The semi darkness wasn't hard for Vash to see through. He had much better eyesight than normal humans. He studied the lines under his brother eyes…studied how terribly tired, even in sleep, his brother looked.

Vash was worried for his brother. Which was unusual…ya he worried about his brother a lot but he couldn't hardly ever remember being worried for. Well, except for the times he had shot him. But that didn't count.

Vash blinked…his eyes felt so heavy.

"How's the car?"

Vash jerked slightly from the unexpected sound of Meryl's voice. Shaking his head he realized he had almost been asleep.

"Oh…(yawn), almost done. I'll get back to work. You should get some sleep Meryl."

Vash kissed the top of Meryl's head as he got up. He then went back to work.

Meryl watched as Vash went back to the car. The soft light of the fire cast upon her skin a rich red golden veil. Heavy shadows cast around her cheeks and under her eyes danced wildly in step with the flicker of the fire.

Millie, I hope you're ok. I'm worried, Vash is worried…and if I had a less intelligence I would say that even Knives is worried. But why would Knives be worried about you? He hates humans, all humans…doesn't he?

Meryl frowned again as she laid down in her own sleeping bag.

Millie never told me what had happened between Knives and her.

Millie remembered all to vividly the conversation that Meryl had had with Millie at her parent's house. Millie had told her she had tried to help Knives, and somehow in the process she had gotten hurt. Although why she was hurting she never mentioned to Meryl.

Meryl poked her head out of her bag to stare at Knives again. As she watched he muttered something in his sleep and rolled over so she could only see his back. Maybe he could feel them all staring at him?

Funny how when he was asleep and not glaring hatefully at her, how much he looked like Vash. Funny…how he almost looked human in his sleep.

Is it possible, even remotely that Knives might feel something for Millie. Possible that Millie somehow got through the insanity that not even Vash could. I wouldn't put it past her. Millie is truly amazing. But…

Was it really possible that Knives could feel?

Meryl gasped as she was hit with a sudden unexpected memory of Vash screaming out in agony over killing a man. Killing when he had no choice, it was either kill or be killed. She remembered the tears and the screams…god did she remember the soul ripping screams. And all this pain, this hate and suffering was caused by one man.

Meryl shuddered and fought the urge to pull her sleeping bag over her head.

NO…I don't believe it. No matter how nice it would be to think Knives could be changed…if for only Vash's sake.

Meryl couldn't make herself believe. She just couldn't believe that Knives felt anything but anger and bloodlust. The guy was insane…and probably should be killed to make sure humanity lived another day.

No one has the right to take the life of another, and no one has the right to condemn.

She sighed not really liking to eat her own words. Granted they were Vash's too. But she had said them once, and she had believed them. So she couldn't really think like she was toward Knives.

I guess even a man like Knives deserves to live his life. I just wish that he wasn't so hell bent on taking that right from the rest of us.

Meryl yawned…

Still she could deny that something was wrong with him. Maybe even bugging him. There was the fact that Knives didn't seem to be eating. Already he had refused dinner from Vash, and would have refused sleep if Vash hadn't threatened to rearrange his face unless he laid down. That said something, although Meryl wasn't really sure what.

Well despite all she didn't know, she knew one thing.

Knives had already told them his plans. He had said something like enjoy your humans while you can. That more than suggested he was still planning on killing human kind. Which in turn also told her loud and clear that Knives could not be trusted farther than she could throw him. Knives was a murderer plain and simple.

He didn't feel compassion or guilt over his victims. Humans were just walking corpses to him.

Well, not if Vash has anything to say. And me as well.

Meryl turned in her bag slightly so she could see Vash. He had his back to her, bending over into the engine of the car. She admired his back…and legs…and of course his killer ass for a moment. She then frowned as another thought hit her.

Killing Legato almost caused Vash to go insane. He killed that man to save me and Millie. Vash would do anything for me…maybe even kill again.

Meryl swallowed suddenly terrified at what might be going on.

Would Vash kill his brother to save us? To save me?

Meryl shook suddenly very cold inside.

What if that was Knives plan. What if his plan was an altered version of what he made Legato do? What if Knives forced Vash to chose between humanity…and his own brother. What if Knives tried to force Vash to kill him to save her?

That would make sense in a way. Knives is insane. So putting his life on the line wouldn't be unexpected.

And the scary part of this was…she didn't know what Vash would chose if it were to come to that. She really didn't know.

Meryl closed her eyes feeling tears swell up. She wouldn't let this happen. If this was what Knives was planning on doing…then…then she would kill Knives herself. She wouldn't make Vash choose. She wouldn't let Vash have to choose.

She would…kill…she would take a life.

If only to save Vash.

I love you Vash. I love you so much it hurts. And I will do this to save you. You may hate me if it comes to this. But I will not let what happened before happen again. You're to good for that. You don't deserve it.

"DON'T MOVE!"

Meryl jerked up in her sleeping bag as four large shapes melted out of the darkness.

She quickly looked over at Vash…but her eyes were drawn in by a flash of silver sitting on the ground a ridiculous distance from its owner.

Damn it! Nice place to put your gun dumb ass.

Meryl sighed.

And mine are in the car. Shit!

As Meryl stood up she kept her hands in plain sight so not to get shot. She wondered mildly if Knives was the kind of man to sleep with his gun on. Or, she also wondered…even if she wanted to know. If Knives woke up he would probably kill these men. Not that they didn't deserve it, sneaking up on them and all…but as she had said before, no one has the right to take another life. And that included the life of robbers.

Glancing over toward Knives, she was only half relieved that he was still dead to the world.

Figures he's a heavy sleeper.

"Hi can we help you?"

Vash asked stepping forward in a friendly manner. He kept his hands in plain sight.

"Shut up and don't move!"

The leader of the group stepped forward. Meryl flinched slightly as his smell hit her full in the face. Trying not to gag, she wondered when he had bathed the last time. Not during this month that was for sure. Besides his smell, he was very dirty looking. He had long greasy hair and a full beard that reached to his chest. The hair and beard were (you guessed it) a dirty blonde color streaked in gray. He was wearing a nasty looking duster under some grimy cloths. All in all he was probably the nastiest looking man she had ever seen…and that said a lot!

"Charley, is this the sheila you lost?"

Meryl gasped and looked over toward Vash. His eyes suddenly looked very serious nothing like the friendly guise he had been using.

"No way boss. You seen da bitch. This one way ta sma'll."

Charley, as his boss called him walked confidently forward to Meryl. Meryl eyed the gun in his hand and wondered if he would shot her if she tried to go to Vash. Cause right now…she did not like the look in his eyes.

This one was a lot younger than the 'boss'. He was cleaner to, although not by much. At least he didn't smell. He was tall with muscles bulging out everywhere.

He looked like a very strong and vicious man. He had reddish brown hair and his face while not clean-shaven, didn't have a beard.

He might have been described as handsome…if he hadn't looked so very evil and nasty.

"Boss, I say we forgit about da other girly. This one's just as purty. Da tall ones probably already bled ta death anyway."

"What girl! What girl are you talking about?!"

Meryl forgot to be scared as she glared at the men. Only one thought penetrated her mind. These had to be the robbers. The ones that had shot and kidnapped Millie.

But they said they don't have her. What does that mean? Oh god Millie.

"Jest a tall brown headed thing. Purty as could be. Ta bad she decided she didn't want ta stick around. We ere going to have sum fun with dat one."

The man leered as he stuck the tip of his gun into Meryl's stomach, easing the barrel between two buttons. She stiffened as she felt the cold metal against her skin. With a laugh he started to lift her nightshirt a little.

Meryl noticed Vash stiffening ready to make a move. However before he could…something flashed out of the corner of Meryl's eyes.

Meryl screamed as a gun went off way too close to her for comfort. The shock of it caused her to lose her footing. She fell to the ground with a grunt as the wind was knocked out of her.

"MERYL!"

She heard Vash scream out. But she really didn't notice. What had her full attention, and the attention of the robbers…was Knives.

Meryl gasped as she realized what she was seeing.

Knives was where she had been standing. He was very much awake…and extremly pissed.

He had the robbers gun arm with his gun still smoking clinched in an iron like grip. His face was that of the devil himself…Meryl had never seen anything like it.

But what was really bloodcurdling, what truly sent shivers up Meryl's spine…was the soft blue glow that lit Knives eyes up like twin suns in the night. She had seen that only once from Vash…yet somehow Knives terrified her ten times more than Vash ever did.

"Jesus CHRIST!"

Charley said his eyes wide.

"You shall not touch my brothers pet!"

Knives voice was deep, dangerous and filled with all the hate and anger filling Knives.

Charley frightened like never before tried to wrench free…but Knives wouldn't allow it. Meryl watched in morbid fascination as Knives jerked and the most sickening crunch she had ever heard snapped through the night air.

It was then that Charley started to scream.

"CHARLEY!"

His buddies not at the right angle to see Knives eyes ran toward their friend.

Knives looked up…Vash screamed for him to stop.

A gunshot boomed out into the night…and three men fell to the ground moaning in pain. Three smoking gun holes had been punched through their shoulders.

"Knives!"

Vash quickly ran over to his brother.

He looked down in shock at the humans lying on the ground. All of them…even Charley with his badly broke arm were alive. Their wounds were nothing too serious and all would live from them.

Almost reverently Vash spoke as he stared at his brother back to the men.

"You didn't…kill them?"

Knives, his eyes back to normal sent Vash a hate filled glare before holstering his gun.

"We have questions to ask them."

He said softly.

Without waiting for his brother to speak Knives bent down and grabbed Charley by his shirt collar.

"What are ya, ya freak!"

Knives smirked…in a way that was anything but friendly.

"A superior being to you! Now listen carefully I'm only going to ask once. Where is Millie!"
"Who?"

Meryl squeaked in surprise as Knives viciously backhanded the man. The slap was clearly audible despite the distance between her and the man. She looked up at Vash wondering what he was thinking. His brows were drawn together in worry, but he did nothing to stop his brother.

"The girl…the tall one. Where is she?"

"She…"

The man was crying tears of pain and fright were coursing down his cheeks. He coughed, then spit out some blood from a cut he had gotten from the slap.

"She jumped out of the car."

"I know that! WHERE IS SHE!?"

Knives gave the human a good shake…and tightened his grip on the shirt. The man's eyes widened even further as he got another sample of Knives strength. His adam's apple worked a moment as he tried to find his voice.

"I don't know mister. Da sand swallered her up like a sanworm."

Knives didn't speak for a moment.

"Say that again, and this time speak in understandable English…slowly and carefully."

Charley took another breath trying to remember everything he had seen earlier that day.

"She uh…da girl jumped out of de car. We went back far her. Davy over thar took some pot shots at her. We didna wanna hurt her…Not to HURT HER!"

Charley almost screamed out as Knives eyes started to glow again.

"We didna wanna hurt her. Jest scare her out of hiden'. I didn't see it ta well, but it look lika…lika medal box rose out of da sand and stuff. Da girly got in the box and da sand swallared her up."

Knives frowned but let the guy drop to the ground. He stood up slowly from his crouch his face confused. He then started to walk in a circle, clearly going over in his head what the man said. Knives didn't even notice as Vash gathered the men, questioned the other three to validate what Charley said and then send them on their way.

"Swallowed by the sand? A metal box?"

Knives mumbled as he massaged his forehead with the butt of his gun.

"Knives…"

Vash stood before his brother, an expression on his face that Meryl had never seen before. It was confused, hopeful…yet reserved, reserved like he was afraid of getting hurt.

"Thank you for not killing them."

Knives stopped as his whole body did a nervous twitch. Meryl frowned not liking that response at all. It wasn't exactly something she would call sane. Slowly she started to back away almost seeing the explosion about to happen.

Ever since Knives had shown up Meryl had been aware of a tension in the moody plant. And well…it looked like it was about to overflow.

Or in other words Knives was one hell of a wind up toy and he was just ready to blow.

"I didn't kill them?"

He started to laugh. Which in turn really freaked Vash out; he started to imitate Meryl as he slowly backed away.

"You think BROTHER, do you really think that I didn't want to! That I let them live out of the goodness of my heart?"

Vash coughed self-consciously, not really wanting to go where the conversation was going. He took note of the hint of madness in Knives voice.

"Ever…since…I…met that GIRL!"

Knives took a step toward Vash with every word.

"I have been unable to kill."
Vash frowned timidly not sure what to make of this.

"I have tried. I really did! I pointed my gun…"

Knives lifted the large handgun he had bought not long ago.

"I have pointed it at a spiders head…and been unable to pull the trigger!"

Knives grabbed onto the collar of Vash's nightshirt and yanked him viciously close.

"Ever since you left me to rot with that human! That fucking human that smiled all the time and didn't have the brains to FEAR ME, I have been plagued with dreams…and have been physically unable to kill! YOU FUCKING IDIOT! DO YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING!!!!"

Knives pushed Vash roughly away from him. Taken by surprise at this Vash stumbled, but was able to stay on his feet.

Vash opened his mouth to speak, but found that all rational thought had left his head. He had no idea what to say or do. His brother was acting…well he was acting down right crazy.

"Did Millie tell you I tried to kill her?"

Knives smiled at Vash's and Meryl's shocked faces.

"No? Well I did! And you know what happened…absolutely nothing! I dropped the knife that I had tried to slit her throat with and let her live. Why? I don't know. Just as I don't know why I let your plaything live."

Suddenly Knives whirled around and before Vash could stop him, he shot the remaining bullets at Meryl. She screamed, Vash screamed out…

And she was not harmed.

Vash still half in the movement to try and help Meryl, could only blink as she proved to not be harmed.

"What the fuck?"

Meryl whispered totally and utterly confused. She sat down heavily, her heart still thumping wildly in her throat.

"YOU bastard!"

Vash growled suddenly as he turned on and tackled his brother. Knives went down easily since he did nothing to avoid…or even fight his brother. Vash in a righteous anger yanked his brother's gun away from him.

"What the hell did you do that for?"

Vash screamed out.

He was shaking. Shaking in fear and hate…the reason, if Knives had shot Meryl, then he would have been unable to stop it. The bullets had been fired and Meryl would have died if his brother had hit her. And he would have been left there standing and looking on in shock. There would have been nothing he could have done.

And that scared him.

"I wanted to kill her. I wanted to see her body drop, her brains splattered on the sand. I wanted to watch as her blood soaked into the earth and her body grow cold. I aimed for her head Vash. Can't you see…I can't do it. Why? Please tell me why. Vash…"

Knives voice dropped to a whisper. His eyes were wide with apprehension and uncertainty. He didn't know what was happening to him. He didn't know why it was happening in the first place. Was it some strange plant thing he was going through? Some sort of stage he hadn't been able to learn about yet. He knew their bodies inside and out, yet he didn't know everything. They were both one of a kind, the only ones of their kind. There was no way to know everything about them.

Vash stared at his brother long and hard. He tried to see if this was some ploy or plot. But he honestly could see nothing but what Knives was saying. Knives was terrified…and was a very short hair away from losing what sanity he had.

Without a word Vash yanked his brothers body to his own and crushed him in a monstrous hug. Knives clung too Vash just as forcefully as if grasping out for something solid to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

Then just as suddenly as Knives had returned the embrace he jerked out of it.

Vash looked wide eyed at his brother, secretly glad that Knives eyes looked normal. They weren't glowing and they didn't have that hint of insanity in them.

"You want to know why I'm helping you find that human?"

Vash nodded.

"Because Brother, when she is with us. When those two spiders are safe. I will destroy the rest of the world."

Knives stood up suddenly, knocking his brother away. Vash looked up at his brother in shock.

"What? You can't do that! I will never give your gun back! YOU will have to kill me brother!"

Knives smiled.

"I don't need my gun."

Vash felt Meryl kneel beside him as he sat there in complete and utter shock…and something else. Dread slowly drained what color was left in his face.

Knives has a plan. He really is going to try and destroy the humans again.

"I won't let you do this brother."

Vash reached up and gripped Meryl's hand. She gave him a gentle squeeze to show him she was there and she would back him up.

"Then you will have to kill me."

Knives looked down at his brother his expression dead serious. Vash's eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he realized his brother meant business.

"I would welcome death now I think."

Knives turned away to watch as the first sun started to peek out over the mountains in the distance.

"I'm sick of being hungry…but not wanting to eat. Tired of being scared to sleep because of the nightmares…of the dreams. Death would be a blessing I think."

No one spoke after Knives said this. No one had anything to say really. What would you say, what could you say to that. The silence pressed down on the three travelers like a thick and suffocating blanket. It robbed them of breath and choked the words trying to form in their mouths.

Finally Knives spoke seemingly not affected by the mood he had set.

"Its morning. We need to go back and look over that trail again. If those Robbers were telling the truth then Millie was under our feet the entire time."

************

Millie was finished with her second serving…and had already gotten a good ways into the third by the time that Fred came around to join her. Light blue eyes scanned the pile of dishes left by what looked like a tornado.

"Hungry?"

He asked sounding extremly serious.

Millie sighed as she leaned back in contentment. She rubbed her extended belly and burped softly.

"Not anymore."

Millie dabbed the side of her mouth. She felt much better now that her belly was full. Sure the drugs controlling the pain in her arm were wearing off. But that wasn't anything really important. She could deal with the pain.

But first…she had questions.

"Fred. Where did all of this come from?"

Millie gestured to the ridiculous amount of food covering the dinning room table. It all looked delicious but was by far way too much for one girl to eat…no matter how much she wanted to.

"Food Invent Self Handling Synthesizers known to the humans as simply F.I.S.H.S. The S.E.E.D.S crew used them for nutrition and taste. It was the most advanced system in its day. The synthesizers have a verity of 70 foods, and 82 different spices and or condiments, from a total of 16 cultures. You also have a wide range of drinks ranging from water to alcoholic beverages. Food Invent Self Handling Synthesizers were aboard each S.E.E.D.S ship and were available for access by all crew and/or passengers at…"

At this point Millie quit listening. Fred continued to tell her when and where the Fishs systems were, when they could be used and even the last human to have used them.

Millie raised an eyebrow as he just kept going. Amused she played with some pudding that she had been able to get and wondered to herself if he had a shut off switch.

"And that concludes the extent of my knowledge in concern with the Food Invent Self Handling Synthesizers. Do you have any questions Miss. Thomas?"

Taken unaware at the suddenly stop of his voice Millie jumped slightly and quickly thought of something to ask. She didn't know whether or not Fred could feel bad if he realized she had ignored about half his speech.

"Um Ya I do. How is it that this ship remained undiscovered? Where did the people on board go?"

Millie congratulating herself on her quick thinking leaned forward so not to miss the answer.

"Each S.E.E.D.S mother ship had a crew of 5 that were to be wakened if a possible planet was found by the computers. When this ship crashed I was activated by the plant. I found evidence of two bodies. Both had been murdered, if I may be as bold to say so.

"What happened to them?"

"I am not qualified to give the cause of death. The other three crew were not found the outcome of their survival is unknown, but due to records in the main computer the odds they lived is slim."

Millie remained silent a moment thinking hard about all she had learned from Vash about the S.E.E.D.S ships. It wasn't much since he didn't like talking about it, but it was more than most knew. People of course knew about the ships, however name of the ship and other particulars had been lost in time.

"What about the sleeping people. I uh…heard that each ship had hundreds of people that were asleep on board. Did they not survive?"

Fred didn't seem to catch the hesitation in Millie's voice and launched right into his answer.

"According to the ships computer record the Cryo sleep Section of the ship detached shortly after we hit the atmosphere."

"So does that mean they didn't crash with the ship? They landed somewhere else?"

"They did not land at all. The Cryo Sleep Section A through C with all 623 passengers disintegrated in the atmosphere."

Millie gasped, horrified at this news.

Those poor people. They didn't even know what happened.

Millie looked down at her food suddenly not even wanting to play with it. Fred had said 623 people…men, woman and children, they had all died. So many people…that was a good-sized city worth. Millie wondered how many of them went to sleep with wonderful dreams…only to find death.

"I guess that explains why no one knows about this place…no one survived to tell about it."

"That is correct."

Millie rubbed her head, sighing deeply.

"For a robot with programmed emotions you sure are callous."

"Human death is beyond my comprehension."

Millie laughed lightly. She then stood up patting her belly again.

"Ok enough with the history lesson…so where to now? Can I go talk to Akako Hana?"

Fred was silent a moment.

"Yes."

Millie watched wide-eyed at Fred as he turned around and started off toward some place unknown. Not wanting to be left behind Millie quickly went after him. However his tone when concerning Akako Hana was slightly…worrisome. Why was it he always seemed uncomfortable whenever she mentioned her? Why didn't he talk about her?

It was strange behavior for a bot that seemed to love the sound of his voice.

"So…"

Millie asked as she jogged up beside him. Fred seeing how she was having trouble keeping up slowed down a little.

"So why did the…Cryo sleep chamber, I believe that's what you called it, why did it separate from the ship?"

"Humans are nosey."

Fred answered with quite a bit of bite to it. Taken aback by the answer Millie stopped walking.

What the hell was that about?

Millie decided to keep following but lagged behind a little. She was deep in thought.

I'm liking this less and less. Something isn't right here. I just wish I knew what was going on.

Millie shook her head. Actually, she would much rather wish to be back home. So far between robbers and undiscovered space ships with moody robots, her last few days had been anything but fun.

I should be home right now. Sitting in the sun with Mr. KeroNeko sitting on my lap purring his little heart out. I would have sent an 'edited' version of my letter to Meryl and then waited for a reply. I would be enjoying my time off as I thought about all the stuff making me sad.

Everything would have been perfect. She would have used the time to purge a certain plant someone from her mind. And she would have a dreamless night for once.

But NOOOO…robbers just had to kidnap me. God my luck stinks!

Fred turned a left at a corridor. Millie hardly noticed it. Everything looked the same here. The same shiny metal and utterly colorless walls. The same doors and the same tiled floor. How the hell the crew of the ship could stand it she didn't know.

Knives…

Millie didn't know why his name suddenly popped into her head. But the painful twinge of her heart told her she would have rather not thought of it. She had to stifle a laugh at the whole situation. Millie knew she was a loving person. She loved almost everyone and everything. She was a gentle person that hated to see others hurt. She was a person that refused to even carry a lethal weapon, instead using a stun gun to protect herself. Sure she'd gotten mad before and punched certain people, but other than that she wouldn't hurt a fly.

So how was it that she had fallen for someone like Knives?
I can't deny it anymore. I gave away my heart before I even realized that it was on the line.

Knives was probably the single most dangerous man on the planet. A murderer of whole towns…and she wouldn't even get into what Knives had did to his brother with the GunHo Guns.

It was just so stupid! Why did she always fall for the dangerous types? First Wolfwood with his cross punisher and cocky smirk…then Knives with his dangerous mooding.

Well at least Wolfwood was good deep down. AND he returned my feelings. I don't know what Knives felt. Maybe he didn't feel anything. I don't even know if he has a soul, much less be able to fall in love.

Millie shook her head scolding herself for thinking such a horrible thing.

Of course Knives has a soul. No one with so much pain in their eyes could not have one.

But still…she still doubted everything about him. She doubted whether or not Knives had felt anything for her. She had thought so at first. After all he did look at her differently after she had beaten him at chess. He didn't call her a spider anymore and he actually spoke to her. And with a person like Knives that said a lot on how he perceived her.

She was a person, not a thing.

But that didn't mean he loved her back, or even liked her. Sure he had kissed her, but kissing did not mean love.

What have I done? I'm such a baka.

Love is always the right choice.

"We are here."

Fred said about half a second after Millie gasped at the somewhat familiar voice that spoke in her head. He opened a door and once again Millie was put in awe at the beauty that the descended plant radiated.

Nodding to Fred Millie went into the room. She vaguely noticed that Fred did not follow her and he even closed the door after she was through.

"Can you read my mind?

No. But I can pick up on thoughts broadcasted.

Millie nodded as she looked around for a place to sit. She settled for a large metal thingy sticking out of the way.

Kicking her feet softly Millie lowered her head and spoke softly.

"You said you would explain…once I had some sleep."

I did and I shall. But first tell me something…

Millie looked up her face open with curiosity. What in the world could Akako Hana what to know that she would know?

You know of the two plant walkers?

"Plant Walkers? Err…what do you mean by that?"

Plants, that are not as I am. They appear human and walk the world of those that live.

Millie's face light up as she realized what the plant was talking about.

"Yes I know them."

What are their names?

Millie was taken aback by the question. It was a really simple one, not something she expected from Akako Hana.

"Well, there's Vash the Stampede, and Millions Knives."

Akako smiled, and Millie couldn't help but smile back. There was just something so sweet and peaceful about it.

I was never told what the humans named them. I have wondered for a long time. Now ask your questions Human Millie.

"So um…why did you save me?"

Millie leaned forward. This was the biggest question on her mind. She couldn't help but wonder. After all how many people over the last hundred plus years had needed help and Akako didn't talk to them. So why was she special?

No one has the right to take the life of another. Those human males were going to hurt and kill you.

"You sound like Mr. Vash. He says the exact same thing."

Millie must have said something right because Akako Hana's bulb started to glow softly. It was a very gentle and warm glow, so Millie assumed she was pleased.

"And well…I was also wondering. How is it you can talk to me? Can you talk to other humans?"

To know that, you must know the past. Moments in time gone and lost save for in my memory. My Story begins…

To be continued….